Awards, Dinner & Late Night Ice Cream

It’s a weird feeling, walking into a dormitory-style kitchenette in search of a late night ice cream bar, only to find the Chairman of the Company engaged in a friendly debate with two other Company Officers. And while that definitely goes on my list of Top 5 Most Interesting Life Experiences - he looked right at me and asked “Hey, how’re you doing?” like we were two old friends - it was only one of a series of Really Cool Things that happened to me and a group of my fellow ECLPs on Tuesday.

Every quarter the marketing organization at GE recognizes marketers that exhibit certain behaviors, both from within the ECLP ranks and from the larger marketing organization. Because any organization is only as good as its people, GE has defined those behaviors that will help take marketing to the next level in the coming years. Those include behaviors such as pushing the business to strive for the best solution, executing on the business vision, connecting the dots across multiple areas, and looking into the future while being aware of the needs of today.

On Tuesday night 5 ECLPs and 5 GE Marketers were recognized at a dinner at Crotonville, GE’s world-renowned Executive Development facility. In what turned out to be a very intimate gathering, we ate in the company of CMOs, commercial leaders, marketing talent from across GE, and ECLP leadership, all the while discussing the likes of Twitter, Facebook, vertical integration, and a multitude of Next Big Things for marketing (hint: none of them are social media). Interesting conversations all, and great to get and share perspectives with key business leaders.

Both on-program and off-, ECLPs have come to be known for all 4 of the characteristics above, and so it’s an incredibly humbling experience to think about the difficult decision process that went into these recognitions and exciting to think about the next group of great marketing talent that will be recognized. It’s also a great opportunity for ECLPs to promote ECLPs to key business leaders, who one and all seemed to “get” what ECLP brings to the table.

Posted by Sam

Comments

[Israel]

It is very refreshing to know that the legendary Crotonville facility hosts these dinners that (to sum up the four behaviors) recognize the passion found in these talented individuals. A difficult process indeed, to identify passion.

[Albert Wong]

Sam, I remember the conversation at dinner table. (I am the Chinese guy on Tuesday night) For an old(er) guy like me, it was very interesting.

I have been with the company well over 10 years and been to Crotonville hundreds of times. Never got tired the place. Icecream is one thing, but the opportunities to meet with people from all over the world is just incredible.