Life at GE Plastics

"... we must break down the cultural barriers which impede the hiring, development, promotion and retention of women, minorities, non-U.S. citizens and others with diverse backgrounds..."

- Jack Welch
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
General Electric Company

That statement is at the heart of the internal employee forums at GE Plastics and across all GE businesses. We currently have four forums:

• African American Forum

• Hispanic Forum

• Women's Network

• Asian Pacific American Forum

Their goals are deceptively simple: Hire. Develop. Promote. Retain. All in an effort to build two of the most important elements in a GEP career: teamwork and boundarylessness.

And if you'd like to meet a few of the people who take on these charges, we think you'll find they're some of GEP's finest.

African American Forum

The AAF is about improving self, meeting GE employees from similar cultures with similar experiences, and having a chance to learn from the mistakes and successes of others. Mentors, seminars, effective networking, social or community activities and informal career counseling are all tools used to achieve these results.

The AAF also seeks to strengthen the linkages with the African American community through participation in holiday food drives, UNCF telethons, walk-a-thons, assistance to Habitat for Humanity projects, and many other projects in the neighborhoods where employees live and work. The community exposure AAF provides also supports recruitment through direct involvement and enhances GE's image as an employer that values cultural diversity.

The AAF Is...
• Putting people on the right track
• Promoting professional development
• Learning how to make an impact on the team
• Networking
• Developing career planning
• Creating diversity and innovation

Read more about the AAF and its recent Golden Torch Award from the National Association of Black Engineers (NSBE) in the category of "Diversified Leadership in Industry."

Hispanic Forum

The GE Hispanic Forum enhances GE's opportunity to recruit, develop and retain Hispanic talent by providing a support system comprised of coaching, mentoring and role modeling. The foundation of the system is based on individual self-help and focused communication to upper management.

The Hispanic Forum also seeks to maintain alliances in the communities where GE employees work and live. It has conducted plant tours for minority organizations, volunteered for community services, and brokered corporate sponsorships for Hispanic organizations. This community exposure supports recruitment through direct involvement and enhances GE's image as an employer that values cultural diversity.

The Hispanic Forum Is...
• Providing a networking forum for US-based Hispanics
• Creating voluntary self-help opportunities
• Engaging for senior management
• Providing role models
• Linking channels for visibility
• Connecting the community and ideas

The Women's Network

The Women's Network is a forum formed to help nurture the professional development of women at GE. Open to all, the program is about mentoring and coaching, across GE and within its businesses. Participants share information on job opportunities and exchange views with successful role models. It's also a unique method of getting to know peers throughout all of GE. Equity has a competitive advantage at General Electric Company.

The Network is...
• Learning about best practices relating to career management
• Providing a mechanism to foster leadership skills
• Focusing on professional development
• Creating an opportunity to network with other women
• Focusing on inclusion vs. assimilation
• Developing a network for working with GE and the women's community that it serves
• Monitoring and engaging the "pulse" of the senior leadership

Asian Pacific American Forum

The APAF is a self-help organization that leverages the cultural similarities among Asian Pacific Americans to enhance GE's competitive edge in the global market. From internal mentoring and coaching, to goal-setting with multiple levels of leadership, the APAF works across all GE businesses and business units to serve as a focused communication channel for APA employees and GE management.

The APAF is...
• Providing a network for APA professionals
• Nurturing early-career staff and providing role models
• Assuring positive images of GE in APA communities through participation in community events
• Enhancing GE competitiveness globally through recruiting, training and retaining highly talented APAs
• Helping GE address diversity issues related to APA employees