United Airlines CEO discusses early career lessons from trucking work

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says his early jobs shaped the way he leads. Before his long career in aviation, Kirby drove trucks in Texas. He has described the truckers he met as friendly and welcoming, even though their language was rough. Kirby also studied at the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he earned degrees in computer science and operations research. His military training gave him a "no excuses" approach, which he still uses as a business philosophy today. He grew up in a farming community near Dallas and worked small jobs as a child, including mowing lawns and delivering newspapers. Kirby became United's CEO in 2020, when the airline was struggling badly because of the pandemic. He has worked in the airline industry for about 30 years.