When she began taking classes in 1995, she was management development chief for Lockheed Martin Technical Aircraft Systems. By the time she graduated in 1997, she had received two promotions and was director of people and organizational development in charge of employee training for the entire company a firm in which most employees must annually pass certification tests. Like the Boise State program, Willyerd leans heavily on computer-based training. One-sixth of Lockheed s training programs are delivered directly to employees desktops. Others train at multi-media stations located throughout the facility.
Employees can also take after-hours courses at local universities.
Courses cover over 1,500 topics from aircraft manufacturing to leadership development. Instead, she wanted theoretical development and training more relevant to her field to go along with her degree in English and journalism from Texas Christian University. I got some ideas from the program that helped me expand my thinking and contributed particularly to my second promotion. I had a semi-mentor who said, Don t look at jobs that are available. Look at what the organization needs and the skills you have to fill those needs.