Anne Nohara Abaya

The panel included Anne Nohara Abaya, Senior VP, Human Resources, GE Consumer Finance; Lucy Chan, Senior Project Executive, IBM Global Services; Anuradha Jayanti, Managing Director, Citigroup; Sheila Kumar, Vice President, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Inc; Nancy Yieh, Vice President, Gas Operations, Con Edison, and was moderated by Jane Hyun, author.

The panel included Anne Nohara Abaya, Senior VP, Human Resources, GE Consumer Finance; Lucy Chan, Senior Project Executive, IBM Global Services; Anuradha Jayanti, Managing Director, Citigroup; Sheila Kumar, Vice President, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Inc; Nancy Yieh, Vice President, Gas Operations Con Edison, and was moderated by Jane Hyun, author.

Anne Nohara AbayaSenior VP, Human Resources
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Anne was born in Honolulu, Hawaii.When she was a few months old, she moved to Tokyo and since then has made several moves across the Pacific Ocean.Upon graduation from high school in Scarsdale, New York, Anne attended the University of Hawaii where she graduated with a B.A. in Sociology.In 1978, she completed her M.A. in Human Resources Management from Pepperdine University.

Anne worked for the U.S. Civil Service as a Personnel Administrator in Japan and in the U.S. before joining General Electric in 1980.During her 24 years at GE, Anne has worked in several different GE businesses in various parts of the U.S.She worked in the Lighting, Aerospace as well as in the Power Systems businesses.She also spent a couple of years at GE's Corporate headquarters in Fairfield, CT as Consultant-Executive Resources and at the Global Research Center as head of Human Resources

In July 1995, Anne joined GE Capital as Vice President - Human Resources, overseeing Human Resource activities for a number GE Capital's businesses worldwide, with primary emphasis on the Consumer and Commercial Business segments.During all of 1998 and half of 1999, Anne has spent the majority of her time working on issues associated with GE Capital's rapid growth in Japan, with overall responsibility for due diligence oversight, acquisition integration and leadership staffing.During this period, GE Capital's employment in Japan grew from approximately 250 to 14,000.In July 2000, Anne transferred to Tokyo as Sr. Human Resources Manager for GE Japan and Asia.

In December 2002, Anne assumed her current position as head of Human Resources for the newly created GE Consumer Finance, was elected a GE Officer by the GE Board of Directors, and repatriated to the United States.

Anne is one of the founding members of the GE Women's Network (GEWN) and has been an active member since 1997 when it was created, continuing as a member of the Cabinet.She also serves on the Executive Board of GE's Asian and Pacific American Forum (APAF) and has been a link between GEWN and APAF, working on the GEWN's Multicultural Women's Initiative.

Anne Abaya, Sr. VP, Human ResourcesGE Consumer Finance

Anne Abaya

Anne Nohara Abaya is one of the few top ranking female officers at General Electric.Anne started her career with GE Lighting in 1980, moving up the ranks through GE Aerospace, GE'sCorporate HQ, GE Power Systems and Corporate Research & Development.In 1995, Anne joined GE Capital, where she oversaw a number of GE Capital's businesses world-wide.During the late 90's Anne assumed responsibility for GE Capital's due diligence on acquisition, integration as well as leadership pipeline development.In 2000, Anne was named the first female senior HR manager to oversee GE Japan and Asia.

In 2002, Anne assumed her current position as Senior VP GE Consumer Finance, headquartered in Stamford, CT.Anne is one of the founding members of GE Women's Network (GEWN) and also was instrumental in the start up of GEWN in Japan (quoted in Jack Welch's autobiography ), and currently serves as a cabinet member for WW GEWN.

Anne Abaya: Senior VP, Human Resources, GE Consumer Finance

Anne Abaya (GSBM alumna, MA in HR Management), 50, is Senior Vice President, Human Resources for GE Consumer Finance.Abaya joined GE in 1980, graduating from GE's Human Resources Development Program.She has spent her 22-year tenure in various HR management roles at GE Corporate, GE Power Systems, GE Global Research, GE Capital, GE Lighting and GE Aerospace.