Kelleher Interview
Dec 22nd, 2003 | By Jared BlankBusinessweek has 3-part interview with former Southwest CEO Herb Kelleher. This first part focuses on the history of the company, including his run-ins with the management at Braniff, who tried to keep the airline from ever launching. Kelleher is a madman, though it doesn’t really come across in print. It does make you realize, however, that Southwest is completely a product of his personality, and that nearly every airline that has tried to “copy” Southwest has (and will) fail because it is lacking that crucial element. He knew from the beginning that employees had to be 100% behind you all the way, and he used his personality to foster that.