United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby on the lessons he learned as a Texas trucker

Two significant first jobs taught future United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby valuable leadership lessons. The summer before his 15th birthday, Kirby started working at a trucking company in North Texas, spending 8 to 12 hours a day sorting and loading copper cables in an 18-wheeler. The hard work and unique experiences exposed him to kind, friendly, and welcoming truckers who made him feel like one of them.

Even as a young, inexperienced adult at the Pentagon, Kirby found himself in lengthy conversations about complex geopolitical challenges with seasoned leaders who saw his potential and treated him as an equal. These leaders became mentors and friends, playing games like Civilization together and drafting elaborate strategies on whiteboards.

Kirby believes that the most valuable gift one can offer someone is their time, and people remember how they made others feel. Kirby's own experiences with teachers, Little League coaches, and parents who spent weekends with him hunting, fishing, and playing golf shaped him into the person he is today. For Kirby, creating an airline that makes employees feel proud to work at United and, in turn, benefits customers is his "simple job."

He emphasizes the importance of meeting employees, hearing their concerns, and delivering value, whether it's through providing direct routes, reliable flights, or innovative onboard experiences. Kirby attributes his success to the people who took an interest in him and invested their time, and he continues to do the same in his leadership role at United Airlines.