# Live From The HIBT Summit: David Neeleman of JetBlue Airways

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2020-02-13
- Length: 17m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-13-live-from-the-hibt-summit-david-neeleman-of-jetblue-airways

## Summary

David Neeleman, founder of JetBlue, Azul, and Breeze Airways, discusses how his undiagnosed attention deficit disorder fueled his entrepreneurial hyperfocus and resilience. He explains his operational strategy of requiring executives to speak directly with passengers to maintain customer-centric culture, a practice that helped JetBlue recover from the 2007 ice storm crisis. Neeleman details the 'entrepreneur's dilemma' where he was ousted from JetBlue by a board favoring professional management, leading him to build Azul into Brazil's largest airline by value. He emphasizes that hiring for attitude and creating a culture where employees feel proud to work for the brand is critical to success in service industries.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-13-live-from-the-hibt-summit-david-neeleman-of-jetblue-airways#t=0) Introduction: David Neeleman and JetBlue History
- [2:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-13-live-from-the-hibt-summit-david-neeleman-of-jetblue-airways#t=120) Neeleman's ADHD, Mission Experience, and Hyperfocus
- [7:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-13-live-from-the-hibt-summit-david-neeleman-of-jetblue-airways#t=425) Customer-Centric Operations at Azul and JetBlue
- [10:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-13-live-from-the-hibt-summit-david-neeleman-of-jetblue-airways#t=617) The 2007 Ice Storm and JetBlue Board Conflict
- [13:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-13-live-from-the-hibt-summit-david-neeleman-of-jetblue-airways#t=792) Hiring for Attitude and Employee Culture at Azul

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- JetBlue (company)
- Azul (company)
- Breeze Airways (company)
- Southwest (company)
- Spirit (company)
- Starbucks (company)
- Patagonia (company)
- Dr. Distraction (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S6E21 Ron Higgs | Systems Thinking, People Skills, & Executive Leadership](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-05-23-s6e21-ron-higgs-systems-thinking-people-skills-executive-leadership) (Being an Engineer)
- [How Internal Culture Drives Customer Success w/ Doug Eisenhart](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-11-14-how-internal-culture-drives-customer-success-w-doug-eisenhart) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Flying Blind with Peter Robison](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2022-01-11-flying-blind-with-peter-robison) (Oxide and Friends)
- [S2E39 Processes For Life & Business, McDonalds Ideas, & Feel Good vs Real Good | Joel Williams](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-09-10-s2e39-processes-for-life-business-mcdonalds-ideas-feel-good-vs-real-good-joel-wi) (Being an Engineer)
- [Reflecting on Founder Mode](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2024-09-20-reflecting-on-founder-mode) (Oxide and Friends)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-13-live-from-the-hibt-summit-david-neeleman-of-jetblue-airways. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to How I Built This.