United's CEO urged interns not to make excuses in difficult situations
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby advised the company’s summer interns not to make excuses when faced with challenges, but to focus on ways to overcome them. He cited this principle as one of the key lessons he learned while studying at the U.S. Air Force Academy, according to Fortune.
On Instagram, Kirby noted that this approach changes how one reacts to problems: instead of feeling sorry for oneself, a person begins to look for a way to overcome the situation. “In business and in life, you’ll face challenges. You can spend time explaining why it happened, or you can spend time figuring out how to overcome it. I’ve always believed the second approach is better,” he wrote.
Kirby took the helm at United in May 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic effectively brought the aviation industry to a standstill. According to Fortune, passenger traffic in the U.S. fell by 60%, and United’s operating income in 2020 dropped by 64.5%. The company reported a net loss of $7.1 billion, cut back on flights, and secured a $6.8 billion loan backed by its loyalty program. Kirby also waived 100% of his salary.
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He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and operations research. After working as a budget analyst at the Pentagon, Kirby moved into the aviation industry: he joined American West Airlines in 1995, became president of U.S. Airways in 2006, and president of United in 2016.
Kirby also emphasized the importance of self-confidence and hiring employees who care about their colleagues. When discussing the pilot selection process, he noted that he asked the head of flight operations to select 12 pilots who were well-liked by their colleagues to interview candidates. Their task was to assess whether they would be willing to fly a four-day work flight with the applicant.
