Elevate with Robert Glazer Elevate Classics: Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines and 2023 CEO of the Year
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Oct 28, 2025 
Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines and 2023 Chief Executive of the Year, shares insights from his extensive leadership journey. He discusses how growing up in a large family shaped his focus on people, and recounts pivotal lessons from his early career at Pricewaterhouse and PepsiCo. Ed reflects on leading Delta through the aftermath of 9/11 and the COVID-19 crisis, emphasizing a people-first approach and the importance of transparency. He also highlights the value of empowering frontline employees and how customer loyalty impacted Delta during turbulent times.
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Empower People With Why And Tools
- Empower frontline employees by explaining the 'why' and investing in tools so they can solve problems.
- Recognize desired behaviors publicly and provide the technology to help teams win.
CEO Visible In The Field And On Flights
- Ed aims to spend 50% of his time traveling and meeting employees where they work to stay visible and connected.
- He often rides back in coach to engage with customers and frontline staff on flights.
Leading Delta Through The COVID Collapse
- During COVID Delta lost 95% of revenue in 30 days and burned about $100M cash per day in refunds and lost sales.
- Ed led daily transparent communication and prioritized staff retention and safety.