Laughing Matters

Episode 14 - How Southwest keeps it funny at 30,000 feet

June 15, 2022 Paul
Laughing Matters
Episode 14 - How Southwest keeps it funny at 30,000 feet
Show Notes

Riding for hours in a constricted, highly pressurized cylinder with a bunch of total strangers can be tough, especially if you don't have a sense of humor. Luckily, the airline industry has Linda Rutherford, executive vice president of people & communications and chief communications officer at Southwest Airlines. She joins Laughing Matters to discuss:

- Their history of having a humorous culture, starting with founder Herb Kelleher, who used to hide in the overhead bins to surprise passengers.

- SWA's creative and highly energetic in-flight staff, and how the company approaches training to support employees and find their strengths.

- Her cringeworthy moment early in her career as a journalist when she felt under the weather and left an unexpected gift for a potential source.