A virtual deep dive inside a GE aircraft engine!

On Friday, January 27th, all IMLPs in the Ohio-Kentucky area were invited to Cincinnati to participate in a Cross-Business event. A total of 45 IMLPs from Aviation, Corporate, Energy, and Home & Business Solutions started the day with a video tour of the Cincinnati Data Center. We then broke into two groups and alternated between touring the Aviation Evendale assembly floor and CTEC/Fly Thru room.

CTEC is GE Aviation’s Customer Technical Education Center. It holds technical training programs for customers to ensure they learn what is required to operate their equipment safely and reliably. The Fly Thru Room let us view a 3D digital construction of an engine; this room allows engineers to build an engine virtually versus an actual model to see if the engine is functional or has any potential issues .

The group came back together to enjoy a lunch session with Greg Simpson, CTO of GE. He was eTwo IMLP's and Greg Simpson, CTO at GExcited to meet the two Energy IMLPs that participated in the events! Greg spent over an hour with us discussing the new software group in San Ramon, how he keeps up with current technology, and some of the challenges he faces as the CTO of GE.

Lunch concluded and the day continued with two more sessions with leadership. The first was a panel of Aviation CIOs:

• Greg Hasselbeck – CIO, Military, Compliance & Information Assurance
• Mary Bradford – CIO, Aviation Systems
• Jeannine Abele – CIO, Aviation Supply Chain

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IMLPs Leading the Way

I think it’s safe to say that the average college-grad in the first year or two of work doesn’t really expect to be a leader in their company. Just figuring out what’s going on and how to get around seems like enough work, much less trying to initiate something new or help those around them.

Not so with IMLPs at GE. Repeatedly over the past few months, I have had the opportunity to see IMLPs lead the way in embracing new technologies and methodologies. In addition, after these leaders have explored new territories, they are given the opportunity to share and guide others in using these tools.

One great example of this at GE Transportation is Video Conferencing. The IMLPs have been among the first people to make regular use of this technology in the business, and have gained a depth of knowledge on the subject that surpasses even most IT personnel. As a result, the IMLPs have been asked to help staff Video Conference training sessions. At all of Transportation’s various sites, IMLPs have given hands-on tutorials to fellow employees from all functions and levels of the business.

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Start with the Best

The 2011 recruiting season is starting to heat up and it’s time to ask, ‘what am I looking for in a job or internship?’ There is a large array of factors to be considered, each with differing importance depending on your individual priorities. GE and the Information Management Leadership Program (IMLP) is the best choice if you put high priority on opportunities to develop into a leader and want long term career growth. Need more than a statement from an IMLP? The Hay Group just put out the 6th annual ranking of the ‘Best Companies for Leadership’ and GE is ranked #1 for the fourth time in the six year history of the ranking (The other two years GE was in the Top 5). Below is an IMLP perspective of why GE really is #1 in leadership according to the criteria and methods the Hay group used.

Global: The ‘elite’ companies that made the top of the list were described as being “a global neural network... These are the firms that are ready to compete in a complex, global, multicultural marketplace”.  As an IMLP you will have multiple opportunities working with groups around the globe and to experience being part of the ‘global neural network’. For example, on your first day at junior bootcamp you are introduced and have the opportunity to work with a diverse international group of motivated and inspirational people.

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GE & SU - Leadership @ Work

]L@W Student VolunteersStudents met with campus leaders and showed an understanding of the current economic strain on cash resources- and looked at alternative ways of funding their ideas in a sustainable fashion.

Choosing the winner was tough, as students were very creative. The ideas ranged from campus newspaper recycling programs, water conservation, motion sensors for lighting, biofuel, dining hall composting, and even incentive programs for recycling on campus.

However, when it came down to choosing the winner, Peter Bowen recommended that the team take into account the "low hanging fruit" - taking into account time and cost, what would have the biggest impact on the campus.

The first place award went to the team who proposed a water reduction campaign in the Skyhalls dorms on south campus- where all the showerheads in the bathrooms would be replaced by water-efficient alternatives.

Second place went to a team who did a thorough analysis of the impact of implementing a "green roof" on top of bird library on main campus. Although the cost was high, the judges agreed that the team did the best financial cost/benefit analysis.

Overall, the teams involved were "really thinking green" and proposed options that ranged from large scale (green roofs) to small scale (showerheads, high-efficiency lightbulbs). Creativity was king with the group, as many made videos and leveraged Internet resources such as Google Earth, YouTube, and Facebook to conduct surveys and gain VOC.

Overall, 55 students from a variety of majors at Syracuse University joined Program Coordinator Sue Kudlack, Campus Ambassador Stephanie Zuninga, and Presentation Skills Trainer Nancy Martin for this tremendous recruiting and knowledge sharing effort that spanned two weekends!

GE-SU Leadership @ Work Series

Leadership at Work (L@W) is a partnership between General Electric and Syracuse University that identifies student leaders early in their college careers and primes them for professional success in GE's internship and leadership development programs.

Students who participate in Leadership at Work engage in a variety of skill-building workshops taught by General Electric leadership, including presentational speaking, team-building, project management and even a competitive side project and presentation!

As part of the program, students are exposed to GE's culture of volunteerism. The "Winter Clean-up to Go Green" initiative at the Ronald McDonald House was organized to show students GE's commitment to giving back to the community.

Each year, General Electric employees volunteer more than 1 million hours of community service, enriching the communities in which they live and work.

The 2009 L@W series is being held over two weekends in February, 6-7 and 27-28 in Syracuse, NY. Applications were available online through the career services online registration application, Orangelink.

I will post more regarding this effort after I travel to Syracuse for the second weekend of L@W.