Case Study: Southwest Airlines presents today's hero- Colleen Barrett

This weekend was Super Bowl Sunday.  Amidst the fun festivities, there were case studies to read and papers to write.  This weekend, in my Strategy for Sustainability text we reviewed E in the TEN Strategy.  (As you may recall, T stood for Transparency). E stands for Engagement.  This reading about how an engaged workforce provides the best results and a bunch of happy campers paired nicely with a case study on Southwest Airlines.  I have to admit, after reading this case study, I was filled with inspiration, and perhaps even a wee bit envious when it came to their culture development strategies.  Their top three values are a warrior spirit, servant heart and fun-LUVing attitude.  It was interesting to read about their first couple of presidents- one known for his love of loud luau shirts, but commended for the time he spent among the people and knowing thousands by name.  It was around their third or fourth president that the first woman COO and president of a major U.S. airline was named.  She received 3-4 paragraphs in the case study, and I was just a bit enamored with her.  Her name is Colleen Barrett, and she served as president from 2001 to 2008.  Here's what the Case Study Shared:

Colleen Barrett began working with Kelleher as his legal secretary in 1967 and had been with Southwest since 1978.  As Executive vice president-customers, Barrett had a high profile among Southwest employees and spent most of her time on culture building, morale building, and customer service; her goal was to ensure that employees felt good about what they were doing and felt empowered to serve the cause of Southwest Airlines.  She and Kelleher were regarded as Southwest's guiding lights, and some analysts said she was essentially functioning as the company's chief operating officer (COO) prior to her formal appointment as president.  Much of the credit for the company's strong record of customer service and its strong-culture work climate belonged to Barrett.

Barrett had been the driving force behind lining the hallways at Southwest's headquarters with photos of company events and trying to create a family atmosphere at the company.  Believing it was important to make the employee feel cared about and important, Barrett had put together a network of contacts across the company to help her stay in touch with what was happening with employees and their families.  When network members learned about events that were worthy of acknowledgment, the word quickly got to Barrett- the information went into a database, and an appropriate greeting care or gift was sent.  Barrett had a remarkable ability to give gifts that were individualized and that connected her to the recipient.

Barrett was the first woman appointed as president and COO of a major U.S. airline.  In October 2001, Fortune ranked Colleen Barrett 20th on its list of the 50 most powerful women in American business.  Barrett retired as president in July 2008, but was scheduled to remain as a full-time Southwest employee until 2013.

Wow- what an incredible woman- and a great role model for the type of role I'd love to someday play.  (would it be too much to ask if anyone knows someone who knows this woman- to see if at all I could get a call to meet her?  You never know unless you ask... and of course, I don't really know what I'd say- I might even be a little star struck!)

As this passage got me to thinking about the possibilities, I quickly came to the realization that the position I am currently in isn't so far off.  I have the joy of serving in a nonprofit that serves several other nonprofits.  My role does allow me opportunities to bring each group "to the table", and there are times that I am intentionally trying to build a culture of unity amongst each of these organizations, which each have such a wonderful different feel and flavor.  I love to create opportunities to engage, including the creation of our representative volunteer open house.  In my role I also have the opportunity to be invested in people's lives - in our community as well as our great staffers.  Ms. Barrett gives me inspiration that I really could take this role to another level.  I also love the part where it talks about analysts saying she was already acting in the role of COO before she was ever named that.  It just goes to show the importance of how your treat your co-workers, and the name one makes for themselves.

Ms. Colleen Barrett- you are today's hero!

I'd like to add a course to that...

For those of you in Philanthropy, you may be familiar with Indiana University's School of Fund Raising.  A big thanks to AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals) and Austin Community Foundation we were able to have a week's long classes brought down to Austin.  We held class at The Long Center, so the whole experience was a bit breath taking- including the private tour of The Long Center!

We had class from 8-5, and Tuesday was a bit especially long because I'm not so used to being stuck in a chair the whole day (my fellow fundraisers feel me).  It was a great brush up on many foundational principals in Philanthropy.  You know- sometimes its just nice for someone to say that you're doing the right thing and confirm best practices.  One thing I particularly loved was the wealth of experience in the classmates that surrounded me.  What amazing people who had a great feel on the pulse of philanthropy right here in the Austin metro.  That was so encouraging and engaging!

I got an email today mentioning IU would be coming back to the area for the next certificate of the program, and we were asked if we would prefer it to be summer or fall of 2012.  2012 is monumental for me!  Not only will my husband graduate from his 3 years in graduate school, but I'll complete my MBA with Concordia that summer.  When you think a program is two years, its just close enough to induce hope, and far enough away to think - I've got plenty of time.  Now that I see 2012 and it relates to my real world- its just exciting.  Course my answer was Fall 2012... not only will Capstone be in full force next summer, but I might, just might, suffer education withdrawals.  Rather than run to start a PhD, I'd prefer to fill my addition with another week with IU!

No rest for the weary

I've struggled a bit the last couple of weeks, to be honest, in trying to determine what to post about, but I want to maintain the integrity and honesty of my postings, so I'll be true to what stage I'm really in currently in my MBA.  Semester III has been a bit like hitting some kind of wall.  I've wondered what the cause may be, but have recently discovered 2 other students in my very own group had this same experience.  I'm not sure that the cause has been completely discovered, but last week, over lunch I experienced a bit of a revelation.

I was asked to have lunch with two of the new Cohort 3 students, and it was my pleasure.  I sensed their excitement, and at the same time recognized their sense of being a bit overwhelmed at the pace of getting back into school.  I remember feeling the same way in what seems to be ages, but was really only 9 months ago.  They also are attending the Main Campus, so they have the opportunity to have Professor Warren and Dr. JoJo.  They asked me questions about each teacher and about projects that are coming up.  It seems like so long ago that the same mountain of projects laid before me, and now those are only distant foothills behind me.  The lunch reminded me of the quick sprint that is Semester I.

One of the best selling points of this program is that its a very quick 6 semester program.  I guess where I and some of my fellow students are at, is that this program is taken at a sprint pace, but the race is a full 2 years.  From my experience, the first semester is dotted with projects, homework, writing assignments, and the sheer caseload can be daunting.  However, you make it through and feel like conquerors knowing your efforts now have you 1/6th of the way done.  Semester two seems lighter in the number of projects and papers, however the ones you do have are deeper in nature and takes more attention over weeks, rather than being knocked out in a weekend.  The dialogue opens in Semester II, and I felt that the majority of professors were true facilitators of the educational process.  Accounting was a bit heavy in assignments, but thats the nature of the course... to know how to do balance sheets, income statements, and the like, it takes alot of practice.  We ended with Organizational Behavior and Change.  Our experience was unique in that our Professor moved to San Antonio, and won't be back for future cohorts.  I loved Dr. Green, and her style of managing the classroom.  I'm also a great fan of Dr. Werner.  His teaching style is perfect for me- highly organized, however, clue to future students- he is an excellent writer and expects the same from his students.  SPEND TIME PUTTING YOUR PAPERS TOGETHER, PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO APA FORMATTING.  Anywho, enough of that rabbit trail- Semester II closes, and you can't believe you are 1/3rd of the way through the program

And so here we are at the great wall that is Semester III.  Professor Moten is amazing, and I didn't know a foundational course like Finance could be so well taught.  I'll be honest, the concepts are all new to me since I didn't have a finance course before in my life, so its taking some time to really comprehend the concepts.  This next week is our first exam, and I dreamt all night about Net Present Value and the Discount Factor.  I'm a little nervous, because up until this point, before most tests, I would take the day off from work and meet other students in the library for a study session for a final cram before the test.  I just don't have the luxury of that kind of time off, and honestly, the time I do have I want to spend with family and not these books.  Ah the price of being an MBA student!

Ethics has tons of reading this semester, and the class is open discussion, but sometimes proves to be a challenge for me.  Having a background in Theology and Psychology, when discussing morality and truth, people often bring into the conversation faith and human psyche.  I find myself frustrated sometimes  just because I've had extensive instruction in those areas, and I have to remind myself that because I have "been there, done that", that I need to have patience with the course.  Much like my friends who have extensive Marketing backgrounds as we covered some of the topics in the Marketing Course, I sat on the other side of the spectrum in that class, and am thankful for their patience then. 

This semester also has what I'd call "strings attached".  In 10 weeks of Ethics, there are three case study papers, a group debate with group paper, and individual paper,weekly readings, and weekly a topic to research and email the professor about and weekly a question to ask the professor about the readings for class discussion (which I have learned leads to him asking a series of questions back, calling for further research).  In the other 15 weeks Finance class there are tests, and off hand I can't fully remember about a group project, but there is an individual paper.  It's pretty intensive, and I know I'm not the only one who doesn't feel that I have my head wrapped around all of it or even a good grasp on a plan for getting it all done.  I have a fantastic group, and we have plans in place for the Ethics group project done, so I guess we have one leg under us.

So as you can see from my lengthy description- I would categorically summarize the semesters like this.  Semester I- High Quantity, Semester II- High Quality and Independent Thinking, Semester III- High Quantity and High Quality Expected.  Add to this "equation" that between Semester II and III is only a 1 week off (a "perk" of getting through the program quickly), and you can sense that some of us are feeling a bit ragged, and like the students of Cohort III just entering the program... a bit overwhelmed.

Back when I was working in Tajikistan on project that took on a life of its own I learned something that has helped me through times like this before... No matter anything, that second hand keeps ticking.  The minutes and hours shall pass, and in time this too will pass.  No matter the effort, we will end up on the other side of this and it will be over, and its just up to us to give the best effort.  Until then, there is no rest for the weary... its time to keep going.  Remember, around Friday, June 17th, we will be on the pinnacle of this mountain.  Done with the first half, and heading down the second half of this journey that is the Concordia MBA.

A Dash of Light

This week we started early with a special session of our own to discuss the impending capstone and portfolio.  Dr. Ford gave us some great introductory information about what to look for in a capstone project, and the heads up to keep every project we've worked on to ensure we have content for these final portfolios that will demonstrate mastery and proficiency in each of the subjects we've taken.

We then moved to our normal classroom and proceeded with two hours of ethics and two hours of finance.  Hard to believe our first test in finance is already coming in two weeks!

This weekend, like many around the US, I traveled far distances to attend my brother and sister-in-law's graduations from college.  Like so many years we sat there, but this time that repetitive graduation song held a different tune.  This time, that "strange small group of masters students who make up the first two-three rows of the graduates" didn't seem so strange.  I knew the path of their journey, and in as little time as someone saying their first, middle and last name and a hand shake, they reached their final goal.  Their prize had been won. All those group projects, late nights, and chapter and chapters of reading were completed, and they were done.

Seeing all the robes and caps made me envision how in 15 months, these familiar faces of my cohort- my friends that I see weekly, will all be garbed in these similar gowns, and as quickly as it is to say all 20 of our names, this journey will be over.  We'll have the prize and accomplishment of knowing we did it!  And as quickly as this all will end, it will just as quickly begun.  After completing our capstone, and inspiring some positive change in our corner of the world we might just have the taste for what victories lie before us, and this might just lead to the question that got many of us here in the first place... How can I grow?  How can I make a bigger impact in the world around me? What's next?  And so it ends, as, really, it just begins.

Half Way through Org. Behavior and Change

I debated a bit the title of this posting... I certainly don't want people thinking I'm just counting my weeks through this program, but it is a bit hard to believe that this week marked halfway through a class I felt just started.

I've really enjoyed Org Behavior and Change.  After a class like Accounting, I was ready for a class that I had some foreknowledge about.  My Psychology background in this class has been really helpful, and I feel it enables me to take my critical thinking to the next level.

This brings me to another- "why to pick Concordia as your MBA" point- Traveling through your MBA with the same cohort allows you to be on a subject by subject journey.  In putting this program together, they employed a Curriculum Architect, meaning- the courses are intended to build on one another.  In a lot of programs, you take similar classes, but self register, which means you sign up for what you want to, but there may not be the understanding as you go along of how to build the classes on top of each other.  Of course, they have some classes that require prereqs, but that's not the same as a well placed Leadership and Critical Thinking Course near the beginning of the program to help shape the lenses through which you view the rest of the classes.  I think this is so wonderfully intentional!

This is the last week with our original groups.  This week we are to email the professor and program director with people we think we would like to work with, and a majority of this next class will be focused on coming to a class consensus of the arrangement of new teams.  There are some nerves in the room, and sometimes arrangements like this can appear as the analogy of picking teams in gym class, but I'm confident that with the level of professionalism of my fellow students and the organization of the evening, we are all going to be excited about the teams we are working with for the next 3 semesters.

On a side note- I'm an active participant in life, and generally cannot focus on just one thing.  So one month ago, I decided to balance school, work and training for my very first 5K.  This was not just any 5K, it was the First Annual SHAPE Diva Dash 5K and OBSTACLE COURSE.  Now this sounds like a feat in itself, however it was a much greater feat for myself, who one month ago almost passed out from trying to run one mile straight.  I assembled a team of Divas, from my friend all the way in OKC to KC who is in my cohort.  The 7 of us ran like we've never run before, and it was an awesome feat!  Even in the midst of studies, work and our biggest event of the year, there was time to train, run and complete my first 5K!

Taking Critical Thinking to Politics

This week in Critical Thinking, Dr. Thom briefed our class for our individual and group projects. The individual project will be a paper following an issue or editorial and developing thoughts regarding what issues are being neglected or even hid from the discussion. The group project is related to the budget issue our state and country is currently addressing. We have been given a value related to the deficit and then line items of expenses, and their projected values a few years down the road and then a few more years past that. Our goal- balance the budget.

I sit on the Legislative and Public Policy Committee for the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce, and this morning, Friday, we had our first Public Policy Forum to the community. We had such a great response for attendance that we had to move to the Library next door. In attendance we had State Reps Gonzales, Schwertner and Strama. State Representative Mark Strama is a friend of mine, and so I was glad to personally invite him to the forum.

All three did a great job of addressing budget cuts, redistricting and funding strategies. This peeked my interest and provided a great lens through which to begin my approach of the Critical Thinking group project. Also, afterwards, I had a small audience with Larry and Mark, and we were able to briefly discuss budget cuts, and ramifications to social services. Mark asked how this may affect Children At Heart Ministries, whom I am a fundraiser and champion for. Intentionally our structure has sectioned any state funded programs to our STARRY organization, which provides services such as foster care, adoptions, emergency shelter and no-cost counseling to our community. I mentioned my individual project in my Critical Thinking class, and asked them both where would be a great source to follow the issue of budget cuts related to social services. They both provided resources, and we will all be waiting to see the appointments they receive, as Larry may be working on a committee with a related article.

What this all will mean to my project, but more importantly, the children served by our services is yet to be seen. A greater amount of clarity will be pursued through the use of this project, and I am so appreciative to have an assignment that will compliment the impact of my position in the real world.

I'll keep you updated on the project and the things I learn as we continue the path towards Critical Thinking!

Kicking it up a notch... the work, school, and personal life balance

This semester, I anticipate, will teach me much about perseverance. Just this week we had over 150 pages of reading and more take home problems with Accounting. Accounting, I'm finding to be a bit self taught, and never having taken an Accounting class before, the learning curve and time I'm using to pull myself up to speed has been a real challenge. 5 or 6 other students and myself have resorted to study groups weekly, sometimes twice weekly, spending 30 minutes or more on each problem. I even started a weekly skype call with another student in my class to collaborate on problems we didn't quite understand or had questions about, after we finished as much of our homework as possible.

To the point of the Study Groups- Its amazing how after one semester how close knit our group is, and how everyone is dedicated to each other's success. I have really come to appreciate my new friends and fellow students. We're all in this together, and I get a sense that we are proactive about no one getting left behind.

The issue with how much our Accounting class is requiring outside group meeting time, topped off with heading into my Foundation's largest event in April, and trying to be intentional about my relationship with my husband has taken up quite the bandwidth. Add to that Co-chairing and creating a young professional development program for the Round Rock CoC, and creating a new program for WIN (Women Impacting the Nation) to help women achieve their goals, and I sometimes feel that I have nearly zero personal time for myself. And yet I have continual goals like serving on the Chamber Board, and I have even submitted an application for a Governor Appointment. I'm certainly someone who wants to embrace life and all its opportunities, so I'm wondering how do I do this all, get through Economics, and give Critical Thinking the attention it deserves?

I think this semester will be a great time of learning, not just in the courses I take, but how to create a healthy balance and still accomplish it all.

Stay tuned, and I'll share insights along the journey of... Semester II.

Week 5- half way through Marketing, one-third through Economics

I can't believe we are half way through our Marketing class. I feel like it was just a couple of weeks ago that I was so anxious for classes to start. And here we are, just completing our second test, and in the middle of two group projects and a personal project. I won't lie, Marketing has kept my hands full. Each week you can expect to read 3-4 chapters, do a paper on each of those chapters debating a topic introduced that week, and then another paper on a current events article on marketing or review an ad. Add into that the 2 group projects and your own company review, and there just seems to always be more to get done than there is time for.

I enjoy Professor Warren's teaching. He's very conversational, and you feel comfortable speaking out in class. Last night he seemed to have switched up the pace, and I'm not sure if it was because we had another test, or what, but we were able to take the debates from the previous week and provide our insight from around the room in conversation with the whole class. I enjoyed hearing everyone's perspective.

One thing I am having to get used to is there seems to be 4 different resources to plug into to make sure you have all the information for your class. Concordia Email, Blackboard, Campus Pack, and My Info. I watch my email carefully, but was unaware that messages were being posted to blackboard, so when Prof Warren gave us the week off from 3 of the papers, I didn't catch it, and just kept with the syllabus. I was a little frustrated to find out on Sunday when our group met for discussing our group project that those weren't required.

Marketing is full, and it's also fast paced. We are having to fit a full semester's worth of education into 10 weeks. That means that this week I need to read the Marketing and PR book that was originally slotted to take a couple of weeks to go through. It also means we are having to briefly cover everything instead of getting deeply into the details, which feels just a little more like undergrad, but a good transition back into the swing of school. I was hoping to mention that last night, because the program said we would be surveyed midway through a course to provide input before an entire semester passes by, but for one reason or another the surveys didn't come.

Economics is almost like that wild card. In Econ we have 2 tests, 1 group project, and participation that make up our grades. Dr. Estrada mentions something about the mid-term test each week, and how it's designed for practical use of managerial economics, but just the unknown of how much time we will have to complete it, what the questions will be phrased like, and if we will have notes or an open book available is making a few of us nervous. I don't have much time outside of class to dedicate to economics with how busy Marketing keeps me, but I learn when Dr. Estrada teaches. I read the chapters, and am prolly at about 85% comprehension, and then he shows practical applications, and suddenly the equations make sense and purpose is clear. We have been taking the chapters slower than the syllabus, but I appreciate that Dr. Estrada is dedicated to quality, and ensuring the concepts are grasped, and I hear the same appreciation for Dr. Estrada from my fellow students.

Kudos to Professor Warren and Dr. Estrada. They are blazing new trails with us, and I'm thankful for their efforts.