United Airlines CEO Urges Gen Z Interns to Embrace Resilience

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby advised Gen Z interns to adopt a "no excuses" mantra when facing professional adversity. In an Instagram post, Kirby urged young professionals to pivot from self-pity to focusing on how to overcome challenges, a philosophy he developed during his training at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Kirby applied this approach during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which he took a 100% salary cut while managing a $7.1 billion net loss for United Airlines in 2020. Beyond resilience, the CEO emphasized the importance of self-confidence and hiring employees based on their care for others and interpersonal compatibility.

Other industry leaders shared similar perspectives on navigating crisis and success. Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian highlighted the role of humility and continuous learning in crisis management. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang argued that low expectations can increase resilience, suggesting that those with very high expectations often possess lower resilience.