Electronics manufacturer Jabil Circuit likes growing its own leaders.

Last year, the company launched a leadership program, which helps focus management on an upward career path. The program has 630 employees worldwide. Most work at the St. Petersburg headquarters.

Jabil has always had a culture of grooming its executives. CEO and president Tim Main joined the company in April 1987 as a production control manager, and quickly climbed the ranks. Prior to last year, the company had an informal leadership training program, said Audrey McGuckin, director of human resource development. The new program solidifies the company's goal to retain and train its employees, a spokeswoman said.

The program seeks to make senior managers better leaders, increase their performance and equip them with necessary skills for future roles. The company tailors its programs to individual employees. Jabil has a partnership with the Harvard Business School that allows employees to travel to Boston for a four-day, customized program, and the company sends selected employees on international assignments and hires external coaches for training.