Focusing on employee development helps us attract, engage, and retain the talented people we need to build our brands. Brown-Forman for many years has placed a priority on employee development, and recently we saw global expansion of many of our talent-management programs.
Our Approach
We take a comprehensive approach to managing and developing talent. In addition to formal training through our award winning corporate university, Brand Building University (BBU), and informal performance management, we offer employee development through job enrichment, project assignments, mentoring, skill and behavioral assessment, and career counseling.
Actions
Beginning in 2008, BBU increased the level of curriculum devoted to Corporate Responsibility. First, we integrated Diversity and Inclusion into all relevant management training, and we developed mandatory online Diversity training and a course on Civil Treatment for Managers launched in 2009. This is in addition to the mandatory online harassment prevention training required of all employees.
Second, we developed of a customized training course on the responsible consumption and service of beverage alcohol. (See Responsible Drinking).
As part of the online complement to this course, beginning in late 2010, employees can create a Personal Responsibility Plan (PRP). A (PRP) is a small, voluntary, repeatable action that is designed to enhance our ability to make a difference over time. Employees can set up PRPs to recycle more, volunteer once per month, or be a designated driver.
In early 2009, we tested a career management program with a small group of cross-functional employees in the U.S. and Europe. This program includes career management best practices for individuals, as well as training for managers to help them guide discussions on career development with the people they manage. It also focuses on ways to add value to both the company’s performance and the individual’s experience, through targeted career planning.
Also, we recently launched a global web-based mentoring program available to all employees. Mentoring provides employee development through the sharing of experiences, expertise, skills, values, perspectives, attitudes and proficiencies. Specifically, the mentoring program:
- Exposes the employee to the company's practices, people, and culture
- Broadens the employee's perspective and understanding of the business
- Develops and enhances the employee’s skills needed for success
- Provides the employee advice and guidance on career and related issues
- Increases the employee's self-awareness and self-confidence.
Performance
BBU
Despite unfavorable economic conditions and restrictions on travel, BBU continued to provide high-quality learning experiences across the organization, adding several classes in Europe, the Diversity & Inclusion training module, and Alcohol Responsibility education. This continued focus on training underscores the importance Brown-Forman places on employee development and our position as an industry leader.
In fiscal 2010, BBU provided a total of 31,000 hours of training to employees, an average of over 13 hours of training per person. This equates to 15 employees in training 8 hours each workday.
Mentoring
Active mentors: 259
Active mentees: 355
Active Participants both Mentee and Mentor: 85
Total Active Participants: 699
Awards
Winner of the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) BEST 2009 Award
Winner of the 2008 Corporate University Xchange Award for Excellence and Innovation in Corporate Learning – Exemplary Practice in Strategic Alignment