I have long said that some of the best leadership lessons I have learned have come from outside of education. I frequently mention the leadership of retired Navy Submarine Captain L. David Marquet. His intent-based leadership that he highlighted in his best-selling book Turn the Ship Around is something that I frequently mention when asked about my leadership style. I have been fortunate to come across another book that has provided me with similar perspectives of finding leadership where you don’t always suspect it. 

My guest today is Phillip Jett, and he is the author of the recently released book Stranded in the Sky: The Untold Story of the Pan Am Luxury Airliners Trapped on the Day of Infamy. I know it’s quite the title, but be honest right now, do you have a clue as to what this book will be about other than what you’ve heard on the title? I didn’t either. I have heard, read, and watched many stories and reflections on what happened on December 7, 1941. But never in this have I heard a story about Pan Am, and furthermore, never had I heard about luxury airliners.

I knew from reading a brief synopsis that on that at that moment when Pearl Harbor came under attack, unsuspecting people were thrust into roles where survival depended on leadership. I’ve learned a lot from this book, and I hope you will learn a lot from our guest today.