Southwest Airlines provides leadership development for its 40,000 employees through its Southwest Airlines University for People program. Enspire Learning partners with Southwest to deliver simulation-based leadership programs focused on strategic thinking, business acumen, and managing people. The 6-week Managers-in-Training II program uses a blended approach including executive sponsorship, simulations, and development opportunities to prepare high-potential employees for managerial roles and develop their leadership skills.

1. Southwest Airlines:
Developing Legendary
Leaders, Southwest Style
Bonnie Endicott, Southwest Airlines
Bjorn Billhardt, Enspire Learning

2. Southwest Airlines University for People
• Serve all 40,000 Southwest and
AirTran employees with professional
and leadership development
• Facilitated over 124,000 learning hours
in 2011
• Staff of 17 facilitators, instructional
designers, program specialists, and
coordinators

3. Enspire Learning
• Leadership development experiences
and simulations since 2001
• 50 learning and leadership
development professionals
• Offices in Austin, TX and
Berlin, Germany

4. Enspire Simulation Programs
Focus: Leadership, strategic Focus: Business Focus: Managing
thinking, cross-departmental acumen, understanding drivers people, handling difficult
collaboration of financial success conversations
Delivery: Blended, team- Delivery: Blended, classroom Delivery: Blended, classroom
based, multiplayer or virtual or virtual
delivery, multiplayer, team- delivery, multiplayer, team-
based based
Outcomes: Personal Outcomes: Better managerial Outcomes: Confidence in
insight, ―big picture‖ decision-making, better handling difficult managerial
mindset, effective cross- communication using financial situations, improved ability to
functional data and metrics manage employee productivity
collaboration, behavior change and engagement

5. Leadership Development at Southwest
High
Promotion to
Potential
Supervisor
Supervisors
• Leadership
Yes! I want • Managers-
Is Promotion to Southwest
to be a in-Training Director+
Leadership Leadership Style
Leader! (MIT) Level I
for me? (3 weeks)
(3 weeks) • Leadership
• FUNdamen-
• Leadership Summit
• Leadership tals of
(1 day
101 201 Southwest High annually)
(2 days) (2 days) Leadership Promotion to Potential
(2 days) Manager Managers
• Next Level • Managers-
Emerging Leaders Leadership in-Training
(2.5 days)
(MIT) Level
II (6 weeks)

6. Managers-in-Training II Program Objectives
• Develop a personal leadership style that impacts the hearts
and minds of your People
• Be a change Leader, building strong Teams and
communicating at all levels
• Think strategically, seeing beyond today to plan for tomorrow
• Serve others—be a model of a Servant’s Heart
• Model Living the Southwest Way daily
6

7. Managers-in-Training II Program Objectives
• Navigate the Southwest organization with influence
• Research, assess, and present a recommendation to Senior
Management Committee that supports Southwest’s strategic
direction
• Be purposeful and planful in your growth as a Southwest
Leader

9. Blend of development techniques
• Executive sponsorship • 360 feedback
• Guest Professors • Camping & challenge
• Strategic project courses
• ―Shadowing‖ a Senior • Development opportunities
Executive for Alumni
• Business simulation
• Online modules
• Book debriefs

10. A Typical Agenda
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Freedom Hall / Training Room E /
U4P 106 U4P 106 U4P 106 U4P 106 U4P 106
*Wear your MIT shirt
7:30am Shuttle 8:00am Shuttle 7:30am Shuttle 7:30am Shuttle 8:00am Shuttle
8:00 – 8:30am 8:30 – 9:00am 8:00 – 8:15am 8:00 – 8:15am 8:30 – 11:30am
Presentation Set-up Debrief & Daily Agenda Debrief & Daily Agenda Debrief & Daily Agenda Individual Development
Planning
8:30am – 1:00pm 9:00am – 11:30noon 8:15am – 12:00pm 8:15am – 12:00pm
SMC Presentations & Influencer Influencer Business Simulation Take-aways &
Feedback Next Steps
11:30 – 1:00pm 12:00 – 1:30pm 12:00 – 1:00pm
Freedom Hall / Training Lunch w/ Herb and Colleen Lunch with Sponsor Lunch
Room F for Lunch
1:00 – 5:30pm 1:30 – 5:30pm 1:00 – 5:30pm
1:30 – 2:30pm Influencer, continued Influencer, continued Business Simulation,
Debrief Presentations continued
U4P 106
 5:30 pm Shuttle  5:00pm Shuttle  5:00pm Shuttle  12:00pm Depart to
Airport
5:30 - 7:30pm 5:30 - 7:30pm
Flt Ops – SIMS& Dinner Dinner (?)
CELEBRATE!!
 4:30 pm Shuttle  8:00 pm Shuttle  8:00 pm Shuttle

11. Simulation Capstone Experience
Online Pre-work Team-Based Simulation
• Rich, video-based media • Teams formulate strategies
• Tools and exercises and execute multiple rounds
• Self-paced instruction • Structured, customized
• Duration: 4-8 hours debriefs drive learning
• Duration: 6-12 hours

12. The Experience

13. The Experience

14. Debriefing Topics
• Strategy and finance
• Shareholder value
• Unit economics
– Breakeven analysis
– Payback period
– NPV and IRR
• Financial metrics and statements
• Investment analysis and ROI
• Profitability and cash flow
• Systems thinking

15. Questions?
Bonnie Endicott Bjorn Billhardt
Southwest Airlines Enspire Learning
bonnie.endicott@wnco.com bjorn@enspire.com