Elevate your organization’s Culture and Customer Service
with resources from the Colleen C. Barrett Institute
About the Colleen C. Barrett Institute
The Colleen C. Barrett Institute exists to honor the legacy of the late Colleen C. Barrett, President Emeritus of Southwest Airlines, by providing resources that help others learn from her example and make their own remarkable impact in their organizations and our world.
When I was approached about headlining an institute about the Culture and Customer Service of Southwest Airlines®, I confess it took me a little while to get used to the idea. There are few things I shy away from more than being the center of attention.
I’ve always been most comfortable “behind the scenes,” even as Southwest Airlines began to grow years ago (and my position along with it). I was truly just one piece of a much larger relationship between our Company, our Employees, and our Customers. As Southwest Airlines grew, we all grew. It was our experiences together that led to good ideas, that became good practices, that helped define our own way of thinking about work, taking care of our People, and being in selfless service to others.
Our sense of Family is at the Heart of our Culture and Customer Service, and I could not feel more privileged to be part of it and to welcome you as you explore the truly unique elements of our story on the CCBI website. I hope you will stay awhile, laugh a little, and maybe learn something new about LUV®.
“Leadership is not a title.
It’s a way of life.”
Thought Leadership
Learning Well: Effectively Growing Diverse Teams
In today’s workplace, effectively growing and managing diverse Teams is paramount to success. Southwest Airlines President Emeritus, the late Colleen Barrett, mastered this principle, and I am blessed to be able to apply her lessons firsthand from seeing years of her “walking the talk.”
Leading Well: Navigating One on One Conversations
At Southwest Airlines, we pride ourselves in putting our People first—whether that’s your Fellow Employee (Coheart) sitting next to you in a meeting or the Customer you’re helping board one of our planes. In my more than 16 years working at Southwest, I’ve had many opportunities to see that People-first mentality modeled by Leaders (first established by our beloved President Emeritus, the late Colleen Barrett).
Special Edition: Colleen on Sustaining Strong Performance
Have you ever wondered why Southwest Airlines receives such an incredible amount of media coverage? Obviously, we have a wonderful Public Relations Department making sure our accomplishments and activities don’t go unnoticed, but the mere fact that we are a “successful airline” – two words most people think don’t go together – makes us newsworthy. It also leaves us- and everything we do open to scrutiny.
Upcoming Events
From our partners
October 26 • Southwest Culture Connection
We are thrilled to share an in-depth learning opportunity to advance your culture-building journey from our friends at The Fellowship. The Fellowship hosts the world’s preeminent workplace culture masterclass and, this year, it will take place right in our backyard in Fort Worth, Texas on November 11-13.
The 3-day experience is specifically designed for people leaders to learn from culture pioneers like Southwest Airlines and other brands that we love, including Chick-fil-A and Nike. Attendees will strategize and problem-solve alongside other people-focused visionaries and will leave with a custom-built culture roadmap and a lasting network of valuable connections.
VIRTUAL GATHERING
Join us for a free, Virtual Gathering presented by The CCB Institute, which honors the Life, Leadership, and Legacy of the late Colleen C. Barrett, President Emeritus of Southwest Airlines. Hear from Southwest Airlines Vice President Total Rewards Lori Winters and three Southwest Employees as they discuss their own personal wellness journeys and how prioritizing wellbeing also helps bring out the best in those around them. Sign up today to hear encouraging stories and actionable takeaways for how to nurture your own wellbeing and that of your Teams and organizations.
CULTURE CONNECTION
October 26 • Southwest Culture Connection
Southwest Culture Connection offers a rare opportunity to experience one of the world’s most admired and enduring organizational cultures—up close! Learn from current and former Southwest Airlines’ Leaders and leave equipped with actionable items to help develop, grow, or reinvigorate your own company culture. Stay tuned for updates on what’s in store for 2024!
