Speeches and Presentations from Southwest Leaders
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Strive to be a part of something positive, Southwest President Colleen Barrett told more than 400 attendees of a Dallas fundraising luncheon for the Girl Scouts.
“I loved being a Girl Scout,” Barrett told the crowd. “It was my first exposure to being part of a team. It’s a great opportunity to learn so much that you can take back into the world and help make a positive difference.”
Girl Scouts and women business leaders in the audience celebrated the Tejas Council’s launch of a new mission statement that lauds courage, confidence, and character—all traits Barrett told the audience that Southwest equally treasures in its Employees.
“Courage, character, and confidence all help you to develop a style and will empower you and give you the freedom to be bold and share your opinions,” she said.
The luncheon honored two women, Texas State Sen. Florence Shapiro, and Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones, CEO of the Dallas Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, for their community and philantropic contributions, and paid tribute to the advances of women, particularly those who came from scouting “roots.”
“I’m so proud to tell you that in 1971 when Southwest took to the skies, our workforce was 52 percent female,” Barrett said. “Today, even though we are 31,000-plus large, we are still 52 percent female.”
Barrett also addressed the Girl Scouts in the audience with some parting advice: “People will always welcome with open arms those individuals who want to contribute. It doesn’t matter your title, name, or stature in life; you can make a mark.”
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