Life at GE : Careers : GE
Every time I've started working with a new team in GE, the first thing that stands out is the quality of the people. I just took a new job, and in only a few weeks, I've met new role models who can help me learn new ways to lead change. I also like working with new technologies. Applications like Facebook and Skype have changed the way people connect with one another. I am fascinated by the opportunities to leverage the collective knowledge of thousands of sales professionals to make an entire team more effective.
Our culture demands performance, but there is also a strong tradition of community service. I appreciate the flexibility to volunteer at a local level. Managers are willing to find ways to make it work, and most teams engage in group service activities. GE's desire and ability to invest in people is also fantastic. The training opportunities are one thing, but the early exposure to leadership, the mentoring, and the focus on learning as a process have had even more impact on my development.
I've spent a lot of time figuring out how to move and organize data to help make better decisions. This process is usually called data warehousing, and I've been involved with it in almost every role since I joined GE. After all those years of seeing things work and not work, I've developed a gut sense about projects that helps me ask the right questions. Being able to ask the right questions is the most important skill when dealing with the scale and complexity of GE Healthcare.
My team is currently trying to create a single view of all the activities GE is providing its customers. The healthcare industry is extremely complicated in the U.S., and it turns out that defining a clear, holistic view of a hospital network is extremely challenging.
Last year, I geeked out and built a large data set and model to figure out which "expert" gave the best fantasy football advice. I then built a live app based on the results. At GE, I've been able to leverage the processes and tools used to create that app with much larger teams, to help make us more nimble and responsive to changes in the business.
Have a focused learning plan. At the beginning of the year, write down one skill or area of knowledge you want to master. Ask for help setting up a plan, and track your progress against the goal. With the support and resources of GE, it's amazing how much you can grow.
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