At TJX, we have career development programs under our Global Leadership Curriculum that are aimed at developing all Associates’ potential to enjoy fulfilling careers. Whether in our stores, distribution centers, or at one of our corporate offices, we find development opportunities for our Associates to meet or exceed their own expectations. We believe that at every level, from hourly Associates to management and beyond, Associates can progress and grow in their position. Our Global Leadership Curriculum supports Associates across TJX by offering a consistent development experience focused around TJX’s defined leadership competencies. These core and elective courses help Associates gain skills useful for succeeding at our Company and includes courses in communications skills, change management, strategic planning, and more. In 2019, the Global Leadership Curriculum had Associate attendance of nearly 13,000 across all of our divisions.
In addition to our Global Leadership Curriculum courses, we offer other learning and development opportunities. Globally, our Emerging Leaders program is designed to help high potential Associates at the managerial level prepare to expand their leadership roles. The process consists of targeted assessments, review of feedback, and the creation of an individual development plan.
Emerging Leader Action Learning is a three-month learning journey for high potential U.S. and Canadian Associates who have completed the Emerging Leaders program. The experience is a pragmatic, hands-on, project-based learning approach. Participants are placed on cross-functional teams and mentored by executive sponsors as they deliver results on a real-life TJX business initiative. Participants are given an opportunity to hone informal influencing skills by navigating through various business functions. Teams present their findings, ideas, and recommendations to an executive panel at the close of the program.
More senior-level Associates may participate in our Leaders Developing Leaders (LDL) program, a 10-month global development program designed to accelerate leadership readiness. The program offers a variety of opportunities, including gaining exposure to different leaders, TJX businesses, and business units. Participants receive feedback on their leadership style and interactions throughout the process, with the goal of incorporating those learnings into their leadership style. The first phase of the program is project-based where participants are assigned to teams to research and address a current business issue or opportunity. They learn how to navigate the organization through the development of their problem-solving and strategic planning skills, while deepening their understanding of the business and themselves as leaders. The team develops and presents a strategic plan to senior management, working collaboratively with other managers from a broad range of functions and geographies. Many of the project recommendations that have come from these LDL teams have been implemented in some capacity, including, for example, the layout of lighting fixtures for sale in the new Homesense U.S. stores.
In Canada, the Manager in Training Program (MIT) is an accelerated program that provides training for new and existing Associates who show strong potential to perform Store Management roles and responsibilities. The six-month program exposes these Associates more deeply to our business practices and helps them develop their leadership skills and competencies. Since the inception of the MIT program, the volume and success of internal promotions has increased significantly.
In Europe, we offer Associates a suite of training to provide skills and off-price knowledge through workshops, development programs, the Retail Academy, and the Graduate, Placement, and Apprenticeship Programmes. We also offer tools for self-learning and provide bespoke coaching for Regional, Country, District, Store, and Assistant Managers.
In addition, the Leader in Me program is designed to help develop high-potential Associates early in their careers and prepare them for more senior roles in the future. Associates from all functions learn more about themselves as leaders, as well as how to use these leadership skills in their current roles and for future opportunities.
We also have a Senior Leadership Development program in Europe for Vice Presidents and Assistant Vice Presidents, which cultivates leaders who champion and bring our distinctive culture to life. The program develops skills to help leaders thrive in unpredictable circumstances. Participants gain insight into themselves as authentic leaders and examining their emotional intelligence, personal sustainability, and leadership perspective. We believe the program builds stronger, more collaborative teams across the organization and elevates the capability of our senior leaders.