Best in Class: Training & Development
Best in Class: Training & Development
No mommy tracks here. Meet five companies who give working mothers the training and development to grow their careers and get work-life satisfaction.
Best in Class: Training & Development
As forward-thinking companies know, leaders aren’t born, they’re made. To help make more of these leaders, five of our Working Mother 100 Best Companies have become the tops in offering training and development for women. These Best in Class companies—Abbott, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, Patagonia, Procter & Gamble and TriHealth—scored highest on our annual application for their progressive programs that make advancement of women a priority.
Abbott annually reviews its talent pipeline to identify women with the track record and potential to compete for senior positions. As a result, women comprise 25 to 40 percent of participants who are subsequently invited to career development forums run by the Abbott Park, IL–based pharmaceutical company’s senior management.
In Pictures: Training & Development
Here’s a big number to consider: Chicago-based Northwestern Memorial HealthCare offered more than 100,000 hours of training for its employees in 2008. Even more impressive: Last year, women represented 78 percent of the organization’s promotions and job transfers and made up 67 percent of the hospital’s management team.
Consumer products giant Procter & Gamble gets to the heart of the matter by putting its money where its managers live: The Cincinnati-based company links executives’ compensation to their record on helping mentor and advance women.
Our winners don’t just provide opportunities for executives: The Cincinnati health-care network TriHealth has developed an on-site education program to help entry-level workers acquire the skills needed for advancement. It has also partnered with Northern Kentucky University to create an on-site bachelor’s of health science degree; TriHealth picks up the tab for 56 credit hours, or up to $20,000 through a forgivable loan.
Not all development at our winning companies happens in a classroom context, however. Recognizing the importance of informal mentoring, eco-friendly outdoor outfitter Patagonia has developed creative and sports-driven programs like women’s surf sessions.
