Ginni Rometty and the Culture of Learning at IBM: Transforming Education in the Workplace

Jacob Morgan
3 min readOct 2, 2024

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In an era where technological evolution is relentless, the need for continuous professional development is more critical than ever. Ginni Rometty, the former CEO of IBM, recognized this early on and revolutionized how her company approached learning and innovation. Under her leadership, IBM instituted “Think Fridays,” dedicating one day each month to employee development and knowledge expansion.

Who is Ginni Rometty?

Ginni Rometty began her career with IBM in 1981 and rose through the ranks to become the first woman to lead the company. Known for her foresight in technology trends, Rometty was instrumental in steering IBM toward new horizons, including cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Her leadership was not just about technological innovation but also about nurturing the human element — ensuring that IBM’s workforce was as future-ready as its technology.

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The Impact of Empowered Learning

“Think Fridays” became a cornerstone of Rometty’s strategy to embed a culture of continuous learning at IBM. By setting aside regular time for employees to engage in workshops, online courses, and seminars, she ensured that the workforce could build skills relevant to their roles and personal growth aspirations without the pressure of daily work tasks.

These monthly learning days served multiple purposes: they kept IBM at the cutting edge of technology, fostered employee satisfaction, and encouraged innovation from the ground up. Employees were not only updated with the latest skills but were also given the freedom to explore areas of personal interest that could potentially benefit IBM’s broader strategic goals.

Ginni Rometty’s leadership at IBM profoundly reshaped how the company views and values continuous learning, ensuring that development and innovation go hand in hand. Through initiatives like “Think Fridays,” she championed the idea that the ongoing education of its workforce greatly enhances a company’s prowess. Rometty demonstrated that visionary leaders not only embrace technological advances but also deeply invest in the growth of their teams. Curious about more such leadership insights?

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Jacob Morgan

4x Best-Selling Author, Speaker, & Futurist. Founder of FutureOfWorkUniversity.com. Exploring Leadership, Employee Experience, & The Future of Work