Exclusive Interview | Deepak Shanbhag, Chief Executive Officer at PSIPL (Property Solutions, Private Limited India)
/“LEAP is our way of turning facility management into a value creator—not just a service. We partner with clients to co-create experiences that enhance property value, boost engagement, and unlock new revenue. From transforming idle spaces into vibrant amenities to energizing workplaces with curated events, LEAP brings FM to the forefront of business impact.” — Deepak Shanbhag, CEO, PSIPL
What inspired the creation of LEAP, and how does it align with PSIPL’s vision of transforming facility management in India?
With facility management evolving to center around people and their experiences in the last few years, one thing was clear to us — our responsibilities cannot be confined to operational upkeep alone. At PSIPL, our vision has always been to be the first choice in delivering excellence in integrated solutions & experiences. LEAP is our program born out of this vision; it’s our way of empowering people to reflect this commitment by going beyond services and creating experiential results for our clients. The services that we provide help clients enhance property value, improve employee well-being, and even unlock revenue opportunities. It is our way of transforming FM from a cost centre to a value creator, in line with our goal to propel industry standards in India.
How do you see LEAP reshaping the traditional client–service provider relationship in the facility management sector?
Traditionally, facility management has been transactional; providers execute, while clients evaluate. LEAP changes this dynamic. We step in as partners rather than vendors, co-creating outcomes with clients. We don’t measure success just by service uptime anymore; instead, we focus on business impact. That includes everything from tenant satisfaction to footfall rates and ESG scores. LEAP ensures growth in all these areas, solidifying our relationship as a collaboration-driven one, rather than just being compliance-driven.
Facility management is often seen as a “backstage” function—how does LEAP bring it to the forefront of business value creation?
With LEAP, FM no longer stays invisible. It ensures that the impact we make is not limited to cleaning, maintenance, or safety. We’re now directly contributing to metrics like workplace engagement and leading to better employee retention. Our sustainability initiatives are designed to lower operating costs and boost a client’s ESG profile. These are direct business outcomes. By curating such interventions, we position FM as a frontline contributor to organisational goals, making it impossible to ignore the strategic value that FM delivers.
What measurable impact has LEAP created for your clients so far, and could you share a success story that stands out?
LEAP has already demonstrated tangible impact in a short span of time. In residential spaces, we have helped clients generate revenue by curating promotions and large-scale carnivals that attract both tenants and visitors. At workplaces, we’ve improved the engagement and overall vibe by organising fun initiatives such as flea markets and food carnivals — activities that not only energise the environment but also boost employee morale and belonging. LEAP also plays a critical role in optimizing space utilisation, helping clients make better use of underleveraged areas to create value-adding experiences. One standout example of this is our partnership with a client to conceptualise and build a sports facility within their premises. In this project, we transformed an idle space into a vibrant amenity that tenants now actively use and even monetise, while simultaneously elevating the property profile. It is a clear example of how LEAP goes beyond traditional FM to deliver business value, community engagement, and long-term asset upliftment.
With the rising demand for skilled manpower, how does LEAP address training, upskilling, and preventing reverse migration in the workforce?
Workforce capability is the backbone of FM. Through LEAP, we not only train staff in technical and soft skills but also expose them to client-facing initiatives that boost pride and ownership. By creating career pathways, we reduce attrition and help prevent reverse migration. The focus is on building a future-ready FM workforce that sees itself as an integral part of the value chain, not just as service executors.
If we requested you to conduct a training session with the Hospemag Trainers Guild, what key topics would you choose to share with industry professionals?
I would focus on three themes:
From services to experiences: A deep dive into how FM can evolve into a value-creation partner.
Embedding ESG into FM operations: The key to making sustainability efforts in FM practical and impactful.
Digital transformation in FM: A hands-on understanding of tech and digital to teach real world efficiency gains, using tools and case studies.
These topics would not only empower professionals in this industry to manage facilities, but also strategically shape them with the skills for the future.
Looking ahead, how do you envision LEAP influencing the future of integrated facility management in India over the next 5 to 10 years?
Over the next decade, LEAP will drive the industry toward experience-led and sustainability-focused FM models. We believe FM in India will no longer be viewed as a cost line but as a strategic lever for competitiveness and stakeholder satisfaction. LEAP is designed to be at the forefront of this shift, setting benchmarks for how integrated facility management is perceived and delivered in the country.
