Designing Inclusive Systems for a Better Cleaning Culture

When Nancy Galvan, CEO of Dallas-based Unica Enterprises LLC, first came onto the commercial cleaning scene, providing cleaning services was just a side gig. By day, she worked a full-time corporate job. By night, she provided janitorial services at facilities. As the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants, Galvan was raised to work hard, be resilient, and make every opportunity count. She applied that mindset when building upon the demand for her services and taking the leap to launch her own commercial cleaning enterprise.

“The pivotal moment for me was realizing that this wasn’t just a side hustle—it could be a true platform for opportunity for my family, employees, and community,” says Galvan. “That decision—to treat Unica as a serious, scalable business and step fully into the role of Founder and CEO—is what ultimately paved the way to the leadership position I hold today.”

Now, Unica provides integrated cleaning services across a diverse portfolio of facilities. Part of its success is in how frontline teams are treated. To Galvan, it was important to structure the workplace around those workers and their needs.

“I invested in people, systems, and culture so our team members could build stable careers, not just pick up shifts,” Galvan shares. “You can run a growing, high-performing operation while still treating people with dignity and leading with values.”

It is this moral compass that is directing Unica into the next innovative phase of the industry. As autonomous machines and artificial intelligence (AI) become part of daily operations, leadership will need to integrate these tools alongside frontline staff. Successful adoption of digital tools relies upon employee buy-in.

“For me, innovation isn’t about replacing people; it’s about empowering them. The companies that will win in this next chapter of our industry are the ones that embrace AI, keep improving their systems, and still lead with human values,” says Galvan.

However, she believes that the future of the cleaning industry won’t center around technology alone. It will also rely upon the next generation of women to reform and improve the current system. For Galvan, the first step toward change is to address the industry’s inequity. As women still oversee most domestic and caregiving responsibilities, they are often overlooked for growth opportunities. By focusing on equal pay and pathways to leadership, women can attain the necessary skills required to advance.

“When we design systems that see and support women’s full potential, we don’t just help women rise—we raise the standard for the whole industry,” Galvan notes.

While there is still work to be done, the industry at present does provide a path forward for top-tier female talent. Buildings require around-the-clock care to ensure the safety and health of their occupants. This unique feature of commercial cleaning affords workers with flexibility and scale.

“It’s an essential, recurring-revenue industry,” Galvan says. “As long as people occupy buildings, facility services will be needed. That creates long-term stability and room for aggressive growth.”

From part-time janitor to full-time CEO, Galvan demonstrates how women can create meaningful pathways forward to achieve success in the industry.

“Women bring unique strengths to this work—empathy, attention to detail, collaboration, and the ability to lead with both head and heart,” she shares. “When those qualities are recognized and valued, the entire industry gets better.” 

Taylor Vraney is the Assistant Editor working on Facility Cleaning Decisions, Sanitary Maintenance, and Contracting Profits magazines. She's also very active in contributing to CleanLink.com. Prior to her time in media, Taylor served as a Special Education teacher, which gives her a strong perspective on custodial operations and its role in creating healthy environments for building occupants.
Taylor currently oversees Sanitary Maintenance's Sales Leaders Award program, which gave her a quick introduction to some of the many outstanding personalities that make up this great industry. At industry events, Taylor got first-hand experience with products and equipment, and even recorded the experience to demonstrate what frontline workers experience on the daily.
Taylor handles the collection of content for the Cleaning Insider newsletter and facilitates CleanLink's monthly polling questions.

Follow Taylor on LinkedIn here.

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