JAL: Zen and the Simple Art of Leadership

At a time when the entire global airline industry struggles with worldwide recession, weak demand, concerns over swine flu, and ratcheting oil prices, Japan Airlines CEO Haruka Nishimatsu leads by example and provides a compelling portrait of mutual respect at Asia’s largest air carrier:

“After his morning commute on the city bus, Haruka Nishimatsu heads into the office and gets busy at his desk with the rest of his Japan Airlines coworkers. At lunch, he lines up in the cafeteria and hopes lunch doesn’t get too cold as he waits to pay. Not exactly the glamorous life you’d expect from the CEO of one of the world’s top 10 international airlines.

“‘Is it so strange?’ asks Nishimatsu. ‘I don’t think so … not so strange at all.’”