Delta CEO Ed Bastian Shares Human-Centered Leadership Lessons

In this episode of Columbia Bizcast, the leader of the country's oldest airline sat down with CBS Professor Modupe Akinola to explain how building an ethical company culture starts from the top. Since Delta CEO Ed Bastian assumed his role in 2016, he's kept his email address public and unchanged — an uncommon practice for the leader of a Fortune 100 company. By doing so, Bastian invites both employees and customers alike to reach out with concerns, providing accessibility and visibility from the top down. In a conversation with Modupe Akinola, CBS's Barbara and David Zalaznick Professor of Business and faculty director of the Bernstein Center for Leadership and Ethics, Bastian explained how giving employees insight into company strategy is foundational to his values-based leadership approach — as well as Delta' success. The conversation came as Bastian was awarded the 2024 Botwinick Prize in Business Ethics for exemplifying the highest standard of professional and ethical conduct throughout his career. The event was organized by the School's Bernstein Center for Leadership and Ethics. Read more about the 2024 Botwinick Prize here. Find us on Instagram and Twitter, where we are @columbia_biz.