Monday, March 11, 2024
During a standout panel at the SXSW festival in Austin this past Sunday, Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, engaged in a conversation with Alyson Shontell, the Editor-in-Chief of Fortune, focusing on the importance of prioritizing the needs of employees, customers, and local communities in the business model. Bastian highlighted how Delta’s commitment to its people-first culture has been a cornerstone of the airline’s identity for almost 100 years.
“People wonder what culture means – it’s the hard stuff,” said Bastian. “It’s the fabric of your company and your values. We invest in the culture of our people, and we unleash them to do their best in taking care of our customers.”
Bastian recounted several of Delta’s most testing periods, including navigating through bankruptcy and the recent COVID-19 crisis. He pointed out that Delta’s strategic decisions to prioritize its workforce and customer base—like implementing profit-sharing for employees post-bankruptcy and opting to keep middle seats open during the pandemic—were crucial in fostering loyalty and reinforcing the company’s reputation.
“When you do the right thing, it becomes the smart thing,” said Bastian.
Following Bastian and Shontell’s discussion, a new episode of Gaining Altitude, a one-on-one discussion series hosted by Delta, took place live on stage, featuring Chef José Andrés, a renowned restaurateur, humanitarian, founder of World Central Kitchen, and CEO of José Andrés Group.
Similarly, Chef Andrés, who operates close to 40 dining establishments nationwide and internationally, shares Delta’s ethos of valuing guest and employee welfare. Both leaders found commonality in steering “companies with a mission,” mastering the art of navigating complex challenges, and offering customers enriching experiences, whether it’s in the realm of cuisine or travel.
“Opening a restaurant is telling a story, a story of the people who work with us,” said Chef Andrés. “It’s never about the food – it’s about the people behind the food.”
Tune in to watch Bastian and Andrés explore how culinary arts can be a vehicle for global change in the upcoming series “Gaining Altitude” next month.
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
