How to Lead Through Crisis—Building Trust, Courage, and Culture at Alaska Airlines | Ben Minicucci

Michael Gervais (0:00)

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Ben Minicucci (1:28)

I got the call and I heard the main cabin door blew out, which was really weird for me because I knew the door. I'm like, well, that door just doesn't blow out. It's bolted on. So it was two quick questions I asked. I said, hey, what kind of airplane is Max? It's a Max? And I said, how old is it? 10 weeks. So my maintenance and engineer mind went in. And I said, well, that door doesn't get checked for two years. I have to be sure I got to check 65 airplanes. We grounded the fleet before the FAA grounded the worldwide fleet before everyone else. It was like, no, put safety first.

Michael Gervais (1:56)

What does it take to be a great leader in moments of calm and in crisis? How do you maintain strength in a heartfelt way? Welcome back or welcome to the Finding Mastery podcast. I am your host, Dr. Michael Gervais, by trade in training a high-performance psychologist. And this week's guest is Ben Minicucci, the CEO of Alaska Airlines. Ben is one of the most respected leaders in modern aviation. He's guiding Alaska through bold transformation, including their recent acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines. Born to Italian immigrants and raised in Montreal, Ben's leadership roots were planted early.

Ben Minicucci (2:30)

My father was illiterate, never went to school, couldn't read or write. Gets on a boat, goes across the entire Atlantic Ocean to Montreal where they raise a family. But the one thing they always said is, we work hard, do what's right, and be honest, and we want you to go to school. Because we didn't go to school, when you have an education, good things come.

Michael Gervais (2:46)

He brings that same spirit into the boardroom, leading with unwavering values, deep relational intelligence, and a sharp sensitivity to culture.

Ben Minicucci (2:55)

When people come into a room, one of the things they want to hear, they want to hear the leader, hey, what do you think? And I never say what I think at the beginning, I've learned that. Because once I say what I think, everyone thinks the best idea in the world. Instead, I say, no, no, I want to listen from you, tell me what you guys think. There's something about the wisdom of the group. And so for me, it's about talking less and listening more.

Michael Gervais (3:11)

So with that, let's jump right into this conversation with Ben Minicucci.

Okay, Ben, this has been a long time coming. I just want to start with a note that I have a real appreciation for you as a man, as a human, and as a leader. And so as I've gotten to know you, the way that you work is special. And I hope that I can do your genius service in this conversation. And I just want to start by better understanding where you come from. And I think that that has shaped so much of who you are as an extraordinary human and leader. So maybe we can just start at the top. What was the breakfast table like? What was the dinner table like when you were growing up?

Ben Minicucci (4:01)

Oh, Mike, thank you. Thank you for doing this. And you're very kind. I'm flattered, honestly.

You know, my upbringing was great for me, I mean, and just to give a context, you know, my parents emigrated from Italy in the 50s. You know, it was after the World War II, Italy was very poor and there was no work. And my father had an uncle who was, they call it America, they say, hey, come here, there's work. And next thing you know, my father gets on a boat.