United CEO Scott Kirby tells Gen Z interns to ditch excuses—it’s a mantra he learned in Air Force training: ‘Figure out how to overcome it’
United Airlines’ 58-year-old CEO shares the first mantra he learned while training as a pilot—and one that was recently publicly put to the test.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has advised Gen Z interns to embrace adversity and focus on overcoming challenges, rather than dwelling on excuses. Kirby, who learned this mantra during his time in the U.S. Air Force Academy, credits it for shaping his career and personal life. The lesson became particularly relevant in 2020 when Kirby became CEO of United just as the pandemic had a devastating impact on the airline industry.
Facing a 60% drop in U.S. passenger traffic and a 64.5% decline in operating revenue, Kirby implemented drastic measures such as slashing flights, burning cash, and taking a $6.8 billion loan. Despite these challenges, Kirby found success by focusing on overcoming obstacles, rather than explaining why they occurred. This approach has resonated with other business leaders, such as Delta CEO Ed Bastian and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who also emphasize the importance of resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity.
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