Business leadership development is the key for sustainable corporate growth

MANILA, Philippines - GE was recently named number one in a list of best companies for leadership, the fourth time in the last five years that GE was given this citation. This was based on a survey conducted by the Hay Group, a global management-consulting firm. Named among the 20 Best Companies for Leadership in BusinessWeek.com/Hay Group survey, GE has been committed to producing, developing, and retaining strong leaders at every level.

Hay Group and Bloomberg BusinessWeek.com invited organizations all over the world to participate in the Best Companies for Leadership study. It was open to all employees of any organization wherein respondents were asked to rate the leadership-development practices at their respective organizations.

GE’s being able to make it to the top of the list was not just based on good leadership but also the way the company approaches good leadership. GE customizes leadership training to specifically suit and address the organization’s unique business strategies and company culture.

Encouraging Talent

Upholding GE’s Code of Conduct is emphasized in all levels of the company’s training programs. GE places a premium on investing in leadership and development training, increasing employee benefits beyond the usual frameworks and developing internal capacity that will be maximized for the long haul. Measuring and honing talent is also a priority during GE business strategy discussions.

GE’s operating system, also known as its “learning culture in action,” involves a whole year of learning sessions where leaders from GE and outside companies share intellectual capital, generate the best ideas and practices and discuss developing talent and reaching goals side by side.

“Today’s leaders are faced with so many challenges so often that any one set approach doesn’t work 100 percent of the time. That’s why we’re focused on renewing our culture’s focus on leadership development to reflect new realities. We’re engaging our own leaders and a variety of outside thinkers to determine what it will take to lead in the 21st century,” said Susan Peters, vice president, Executive Development and Chief Learning.

Growing Leaders Worldwide

At the core of GE’s dedication to excellence in leadership development is the John F. Welch Leadership Center at Crotonville, acknowledged as the world’s first major corporate business school. For all GE employees, studying at Crotonville promises to be a defining factor in their career.

“At a time when many view training as a burdensome cost center, GE continues to treat human resources as a sacred art, investing about $1 billion every year on training and education programs to evaluating talent for our people worldwide. The results can be measured in the increasing leadership capacities of our own people,” GE president for ASEAN Stuart Dean shared. 

“Because GE sees the potential of Filipino employees in terms of molding and building leaders, the company continues to implement intensive training programs. GE empowers its employees, encouraging them to be the best leaders they can be. We are most proud of our human resource in the GE Philippines. It is undoubtedly one of our strengths,” Dean added.   “We have developed and pursued one of the most impressive employment development programs aimed at improving competitiveness more particularly in technological expertise. All these are meant to introduce future business leaders who will be at the forefront of GE’s success.”

GE’s presence in the Philippines was established in the 1890s, catering to a wide range of clientele through its diverse businesses. Locally, GE Infrastructure is a leading presence in the areas of energy (power generation, transmission and distribution), transport (aircraft engines), water and process technologies. Meanwhile, the GE Home and Business Solutions segment is a trusted leader in lighting and components and appliances cutting across residential, commercial, industrial and government customers. Likewise, GE Healthcare is making an impressive imprint in health technology by providing modern and innovative diagnostic equipment that benefits healthcare institutions and professionals.