GE's road warrior is plugged-in worldwide

Running a business with more than 300 locations worldwide keeps Charlene Begley in perpetual motion. A company vet who led Plastics for two years before helping GE (GE, Fortune 500) (No. 6 on the 500) sell the unit last May, Begley has always had a packed travel schedule.

Now, as head of a new division that includes security and sensing-technology businesses, she rarely sets foot in her office in upstate New York. Instead, she spends most of her time visiting customers and employees in places as far-flung as Cape Town and São Paulo. We caught up with her in Charlottesville, Va., to talk travel.

1. Days on the road - Since August, I've been in the office nine days and on the road the rest of the time. I live on airplanes.

2. Key question - Many hotels don't open their fitness rooms in time to let you work out, shower, and get ready for a breakfast meeting. So before booking I always ask what time the workout room opens in the morning.