75% of General Electric women received career counseling last year.

With nearly 150,000 employees specializing in areas as diverse as media, finance and technology, this multifaceted Fairfield, CT–based company still manages to provide women with the type of intimate mentoring that defines careers. Groups representing different business functions are united by the new myConnections initiative, which helps employees forge professional networks and introduces them to influential mentors. High-performing women then frequently move on to the two-day Leadership Practices course to learn how to take the reins of their own careers and develop the skills they need to steer others toward success. To ensure employees find the work/life solutions they need, the energy division launched a series of monthly discussions on topics such as managing a dual-career relationship and creating a workable budget.

Chairman & CEO: Jeffrey Immelt Senior

VP, HR: John Lynch

Women managers/execs: 31%

Women among top earners: 23%

Women on board of directors: 25%

Women corporate executive hires in 2008: 33%

Women participating in management or leadership training in the past year: 60%

Women participating in formalized executive succession planning last year: 50%

Women promoted last year who utilized a formal flexible work arrangement: 10%

Formal compensation policies reward managers who help women advance: Yes