Employee Learning & Development

Ongoing employee learning and training are the keys to helping employees realize their potential.

Training & Mentoring

Abbott offers training programs and resources for employees at all levels to ensure they have the skills, tools, resources and mentoring support they need to succeed. Our talent management process proactively manages succession planning, and accelerates the development of key talent. Our senior leaders act as mentors and sponsors, and help prepare the next generation of Abbott leaders. Cross-divisional, global programs in Operations, R&D and Sales/Marketing are led by Abbott senior management, helping prepare senior leaders to compete for future roles.

This year, more than 5,000 leaders in the U.S. attended corporate-sponsored leadership development programs. These programs, coupled with a robust onboarding process and a newly launched Web site, help employees become successful faster in their new roles. In 2008, we will introduce a Director-level training program and an Experienced Manager Program focused on critical skills in strategic thinking, change management and communications.

"The Director Foundation course provided me an exceptional opportunity to enhance my understanding of Abbott's businesses, its strategies and values while honing key leadership skills such as strategic thinking, executive presentations, coaching and team building. In addition, the course provided a unique opportunity to interact with Abbott Senior Management in as small group setting, as well as the opportunity to meet and build relationships with my peers from a variety of Abbott's businesses and functions. For me, both personally and professionally, it was a week well-spent."
—Julie Jansen, Director, Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis

PPG Management Fundamentals, an 18-month management program for frontline managers, was launched to frontline leaders in the pharmaceutical products division. The program, which focuses on enhancing managers' knowledge of the business, as well as strengthening their coaching, interviewing, and communication skills, was attended by 2,764 frontline managers in the US and 400 managers in Latin America.

Our Professional Development Programs allow employees to gain diverse experiences by rotating through three or four assignments within the company, including in international affiliates. These programs are an effective leadership pipeline, with nearly a quarter of alumni going on to senior leadership positions within Abbott. In 2008, Abbott hired 112 people through these programs. Of these hires, 45 percent were women and 34 percent were minorities.

In addition, we continued to enhance our online mentoring program, the use of which has increased by 9 percent over the past two years. The number of our online mentoring partnerships now exceeds 1,900.

Performance Excellence

We employ a company-wide talent management process that creates a strong pipeline of leaders to sustain and expand the business. This process consists of talent review meetings that take place at all levels of our organization, with the reviews of executive positions by senior management, including our Chairman and CEO and Board of Directors. Teams identify talent for current and future leadership opportunities and the development needed to prepare these employees for more senior positions.

All employees participate in our annual performance management process, known as Performance Excellence. Employees work with their managers to assess their ongoing performance, set new goals and objectives, and create career development plans. This process helps employees integrate their work priorities with the broader objectives of our organization, champion the business strategy and understand management expectations.