As March draws to a close, I’d like to point out that it is Women’s History Month—perhaps a little-known fact for most people. The celebration actually began in 1978 as “Women’s History Week,” and was later expanded to an entire month by Congress in 1987. It’s an occasion that usually just slips on by, but I wanted to take the time to highlight one of the most important women here at Southwest: Ms. Colleen Barrett, our President Emeritus. I was lucky enough to score an exclusive interview with her the other day (actually, Colleen is kind enough to meet with many Southwest Employees), and we chatted about yes, Southwest, but also San Antonio versus Dallas, Tex Mex food, and American Eskimo dogs.
First some background on this unique lady: though she has that Texas spirit and fearlessness, Colleen is actually a native New Englander. Born in Bellows Falls, Vermont, she later attended school in Worcester, Massachusetts. At the tender age of 23, she found herself in San Antonio working as a legal secretary at (you guessed it) Southwest Founder Herb Kelleher’s law firm—all without even knowing how to type in the beginning. How did the meteoric partnership with Herb and her begin? Chalk it up to a chance meeting in the hallway. Colleen described her first impression of Herb as “a lost child mulling around in the hallway.” She happened to have some extra time on her hands and asked Herb if she could help him out from time to time. Thus an enduring relationship began.
“Herb’s been a great mentor,” says Colleen smiling. “I’ve never worked for anyone who hasn’t been willing to teach me or let me try something new.”
There’s been a lot said about women breaking through the infamous glass ceiling in the 1970s, but Colleen humbly brushes such acclaim off. She credits Southwest, not herself, for allowing her to be such an indelible part of the airline’s rise to greatness. “Southwest is real, authentic, and very transparent. You are hired to be yourself.”
Herb also played a role in the airline’s take on equality in the workplace. Says Colleen, “Herb never saw gender when it came to that cookie cutter-oriented way of thinking who can do the job.”
Colleen has won many prestigious awards, and there are definitely way too many to list here—among them making the list of the "100 Most Powerful Women in Business" for both Forbes and Fortune magazines. But when I asked her which ones meant the most, she had some interesting answers. First off there is the Horatio Alger award, which is given to Americans who have overcome adversity to achieve some incredible feats in their life. Colleen appreciated it for the outsider's affirmation: “someone outside Southwest Airlines thought I was doing something right.” Fun fact: the Horatio Alger Association is named after the 19th century author who wrote hundreds of “rags-to-riches” dime novels.
Then there is highly esteemed Tony Jannus Award–Colleen is the first woman to ever be bestowed that honor. According to their official website, “For 45 years, the Tony Jannus Award has recognized extraordinary accomplishments in the field of commercial aviation. The award is given by the Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society and is named in honor of the pilot of the first commercial airline flight, which flew from St. Petersburg to Tampa in 1914.” Herb won the award in 1993, and Southwest is the only airline to be represented twice since 1964.
Finally, on a much smaller and more intimate scale, there is Colleen’s alma mater Becker College based in Worcester, Massachusetts. At the college's Leicester, Massachusetts campus, there stands Barrett Hall, a woman’s dorm, named in her honor.
A self-described “sentimental slob”, Colleen’s office is covered with heart tschotkes and photographs of family, friends, and Employees. Often called the “Mom” of Southwest, Colleen is a beloved figure in the halls of Southwest. Though she officially stepped down as President of Southwest in July, you’ll find her in the office just about every day—still working hard. It’s her little acts of kindness multiplied throughout the years that make Southwest the “LUV” airline, and it's what earned her the title "The Queen of Hearts."