Collideoscope and Southwest CEOs Recognize Ginger Hardage on Lifetime Achievement Award

On February 19, 2020, Ginger Hardage, former SVP of Culture and Communications at Southwest Airlines, was awarded  a Larry Foster Award for Integrity in Public Communication by The Arthur W. Page Center. The Larry Foster Award recognizes work by professionals in the journalism, public relations, business and public service sectors. 

Hardage’s career has become synonymous with integrity and corporate culture change. For 25 years, she served as a member of the Southwest Airlines leadership team. She not only built a positive organizational structure internally, Hardage also helped create a reputation for Southwest that transcended to all of the company’s stakeholders; her forward-thinking dedication and integrity helped Southwest to become a highly respected company worldwide.

During the awards celebration, Page President Roger Bolton shared about Hardage’s impact. 

“Ginger understood a long time ago – as many of our peers increasingly do – that the strategic communication function is singularly well placed to lead culture change in our organizations. 

During her tenure as Senior Vice President of Culture and Communications, Ginger led the enterprise-wide internal culture committee that both deepened and scaled the winning culture as the airline grew. 

Integrity is defined in the Merriam Webster dictionary as “firm adherence to a code of especially moral values.” The values that Ginger is dedicated to are very clear. You can find them on the website of her new venture, the consulting firm called Unstoppable Cultures.

Here’s just a small sample:

•     WE BELIEVE that bosses should be mentors, not prison guards. 
•     WE BELIEVE that something fun should happen every day.
•     WE BELIEVE in serving others not because we must, but because we can.

These are not just words or platitudes for Ginger. They are core to her life and living them is central to her integrity. 

Linda Rutherford, who succeeded Ginger at Southwest, says Ginger is always interested in YOUR success. “What do YOU want to do?” she asks.

At Southwest, they want your work to be not just your job, but your calling. Ginger has found her calling. It’s serving others, with the fun-luving attitude (spelled LUV!) that is the core attribute of the Southwest Airlines Culture.”

Following those remarks, a video was played featuring memories and well wishes from some of those who know Ginger best, including CEOs from Southwest and Collideoscope.