Heard and Overheard from Southwest Airlines' Leaders
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“Be there” was the theme of the discussion Southwest Airlines President Colleen Barrett and Executive Chairman Herb Kelleher had with participants at a recent event hosted by Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
Barrett and Kelleher treated lecture guests to an informal chat about the integral role women play in both their professional and family lives. In both cases, they said, be present, participate, and challenge the status quo.
At the Louise B. Raggio endowed lecture series on women’s studies, Barrett acknowledged the challenges women face in the workforce. She told the audience, “I encourage kids to learn what their parents do.” Being both a mother and grandmother, she touched on the importance of having flexibility in the workplace and the importance of being there for children’s activities and to watch them grow.
Kelleher underscored the importance of women’s roles at Southwest, pointing out that Barrett is the first female President ever to hold the position among airlines worldwide!
Both Kelleher and Barrett discussed the impact of women in the airline industry and took questions from the audience concerning Southwest Airlines storied roots, the Company’s culture, and its eclectic leadership.
Barrett, who first met Kelleher while working as a legal secretary at a San Antonio law firm, helped Southwest Airlines fight other air carriers for three and a half years to be able to take flight. Barrett told the audience, “I love to work hard and make a positive difference. I am ‘wrapped up’ in the cause for the common man.”
Leaders also have to “be there” for the workforce and provide an environment that encourages innovative thinking, they said. Southwest Airlines has always had a reputation for having a happy, fun-loving culture. “The airline business is very kaleidoscopic. People talk much about the Company’s culture,” Kelleher told the audience. “It is imperative to nurture a culture that allows suggestions from Employees as well as frank and free communication.”
Audience members quizzed Barrett and Kelleher about what makes a good leader. Barrett said the most important quality a leader could have is the ability to be interactive. She noted that her job consists of a lot of internal and external communication. Kelleher said, “Colleen is a fabulous communicator and cuts through bureaucracy with information sharing.”
One last question allowed Kelleher to pause, with the room falling quiet. What was his favorite saying? With a smile he said, “Success is never final.”
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