What Makes a Company Great at Producing Leaders?

GE is well known as an “academy company” — a talent incubator that exports effective leaders to other organizations and even industries. To better understand which companies are top talent incubators today, the authors worked with the Official Board, a firm that provides data on corporate organizational charts and executive movement, to survey of 853 executives and interview executive search consultants. They identified four qualities that set these companies apart: 1) They take a strategic approach to attracting, developing, and retaining talent; 2) They heavily invest in training and development; 3) They have strong cultures and internal operations; and 4) They’re respected in the broader environment.