ECLP Global Engagement

What does it mean to be a global leader? In the coming years, much of GE’s growth will come from emerging markets and thus the role of global leaders will continue to grow in importance. Although the company prescribes to a primarily local hiring model, cross-border leadership will be essential for future GE leaders. During our semi-annual conference training, ECLPs have learned about the program’s commitment to creating a pipeline of leaders with a global mindset.

ECLP is certainly a global program with approximately 50% of each class coming from outside of the United States including countries like Japan, Brazil, China, Nigeria, Russia and Australia to name a few. The program also offers opportunities for many of its participants to travel abroad on international rotations and short-term assignments. For those who are unable to travel abroad for an international project, the program has committed to hosting at least one global conference outside of the US every other year. In fact, the January 2011 ECLP Conference will be held in Shanghai, China.

Over the past 6 months, a core team of 9 ECLPs has been working with the ECLP leadership team to create additional global engagement opportunities during the program. Thus far, the team has identified a number of short-term and long-term opportunities to explore. In the coming months, the team will be analyzing the costs, benefits and feasibility of each of the global opportunities to create business cases for the most promising. These global initiatives include:

1. International rotations
2. International CE/SWAT project requirement
3. Optional two-week international in-country CE/SWAT projects
4. Language & cultural training
5. Webinar events featuring global GE business leaders with international experience

The new Global Engagement Team is currently seeking creative ideas as well as passionate new members who wish to help bring a greater international focus to the ECLP program. For more information or to join the Global Engagement Team, please click here.

Posted by Jeff, Luis and Hannah