8 Affinity Groups: Plans for Progress for Employees
HOW DID A COMPANY SUCH AS GENERAL ELECTRIC GO from being ahead of other firms—promoting minorities to the position of executive officer in the 1990s—to becoming a white ceiling company in 2009? One reason has to do with its affinity groups.
In 1989, GE’s chief executive, Jack Welch, peered down through his glass ceiling when he had no people of color or women among his executive officers. The phenomenon was widespread at the time; studies showed white women and people of color were employed at firms, but usually below the top levels. Welch invited a group of 15 high-potential black employees to meet with him and discuss what was and was not working for African Americans at the company.
At the ...
Get The Diversity Index now with the O’Reilly learning platform.
O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.
