such a complex initiative. “We continue to enhance the way we For example, the New Leaders Training “This was really an example of applying develop and deploy our leadership training program was a result of a partnership with what I learned at the Leadership Center and development opportunities,” said Commercial Airplanes to quickly provide around a one-team or ‘One Boeing’ con- Rick Stephens, senior vice president, training to an influx of new first-line man- cept to roll out such a huge, innovative Human Resources and Administration. agers at their work sites in Seattle and project,” she said. “We know that now, more than ever, in South Carolina. The Boeing Leadership Center in we need an environment where all our And the Saudi Emerging Leaders Pro- St. Louis has been the company’s leader- employees can continue to grow person- gram, a partnership with Boeing Defense, ship training flagship the past 13 years. ally and professionally as they deliver the Space & Security, recently sponsored Classes started in February 1999, and game-changing products and services 15 graduate students from the Kingdom by early 2000 more than 2,500 managers our customers expect.” of Saudi Arabia’s Alfaisal University. The had graduated from programs there. Since But learning to be a Boeing leader, one-week program provided perspectives then, more than 100,000 employees have or a better one, also takes place away on operating in a global economy and was passed through the center. All totaled, from the center. the first of its kind to be held at the Boeing they’ve spent more than 3 million hours “True leadership development happens Leadership Center. in classroom study with subject-matter anywhere, anytime—out in the workplace, Meredith, a former Rockwell Aerospace experts from inside and outside Boeing. at our sites—with our people working manager, took her First-Line Leaders class And those employees have shared what together,” said John Messman, director, at the center in 1999. they’ve learned with countless others. Leadership Development. She said her first question was, “Why?” “Not only did I have to go to class, but I had to be away from home for five days,” she recalled. “My expectations were not high, but I accepted that this was some- thing I had to do.” Looking back today on that first class, and the subsequent courses she’s taken, including the Boeing Executive Program, Meredith said she’s gained many valuable lessons, a lot of business knowledge and an expanded network of colleagues. Currently, she’s responsible for 14 em- ployees and she mentors 10 others. Craig Trewet, site director for Boeing Fabrication’s site in Salt Lake City, also took the First-Line Leaders class at the center the same year as Meredith. At the time, he had been a manager for four years. Trewet has since attended more than nine programs, including the Engineering Leadership Program, Strategic Leadership Seminar, Program Management and the Boeing Executive Program. “I always ... came away with more than I expected,” said Trewet, a 22-year Boeing veteran. “One of the biggest takeaways has been learning how to connect our Salt Boeing Leadership Center for growing our business. By engagingLake City employees with our strategies and communicating clearly with employees, Number of students since 1999: 100,000 by what our future holds for them andthey can understand and be inspired Number of class hours since 1999: 3 million for our site.” n ann.m.beach@boeing.com BOEING FRONTIERS / SEPTEMBER 2012 31
Frontiers September 2012 Issue
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