Exclusive interview with Barbara Barrett, successful CEO, U.S. Ambassador and the first woman to fly a F/18-Hornet fighter aircraft

… my work philosophy can be summarized 
briefly: Work hard, play hard.    [Barbara Barrett]

You have succeeded with excellence in every area you have chosen to develop your career: as a businesswomen, aviation attorney and diplomat. Before we further discuss some of them – and I am sure that each of them had contributed a great deal to your self-development – which one was the most rewarding and which one you have enjoyed the most?

[Barbara Barrett] 

Every business day calls upon a diversity of interests.  Each element of my career  ̶ from aviation to diplomacy, education to law and ranching to business  ̶ has been a significant contributor to my enjoyment of what I do. Like most people, I find the combination of roles to be more rewarding and satisfying than any of the elements standing alone.

To mention just a few milestones – President and CEO of Triple Creek Guest Ranch in Montana, Corporate Counsel for two Fortune 500 companies (before you were 30). To become CEO is an important goal for every successful business person; to become a woman CEO must be even more of a challenge. Can you please talk about your starting years in business, taking over your father’s enterprise. And what triggered your self-inflicted energizing work and later leadership philosophy?

[Barbara Barrett] 

I was lucky to have a father who instilled in me a sense of personal responsibility and who taught me my first business course.  When I was about four years old, I was given a calf.  It was my responsibility to raise, sell or trade the calf. I learned the basics of business and responsibility at that early age.  Then tragedy struck.  My father passed away when I was 13.  Suddenly I was supporting my mother, five siblings and myself on the farm.  Each day I went to school.  I tended the chickens, cows and horses as well.  On evenings and weekends I saddled, shod and trained horses and gave horseback riding lessons.  In college I enrolled in a full load of classes while working as many as five jobs at a time.  Like other CEOs, my leadership style is influenced by these early experiences. 

In business, it is important to be motivated to work hard and enjoy the work.  As I invest energy in projects, I find that I am simultaneously reenergized. Thus my work philosophy can be summarized briefly: Work hard, play hard. 

In 2006, The Aerospace Corporation elected you to the Board of Trustees. This recognition came to prize your joined competences as attorney and pilot. Or it is rather due to the fact that you are the first civilian woman landing a F/A-18, a multi role fighter jet [now a career open to women]? How did this pioneering step change your perspective, as a woman in such an exclusive club?

[Barbara Barrett] 

When elected to The Aerospace Corporation’s Board of Trustees, I applied my experience in law, aviation, space and corporate governance. As a Partner in a law firm, I specialized in international business and aviation law.  Before flying the F/18-Hornet, I served as a civilian advisor to the Secretary of Defense, urging that women be allowed to fly all aircraft types as women were then excluded from flying fighters and bombers. Working with the exceptionally talented Aerospace team, gender is superfluous.  Education, experience and ideas matter most. 

In March 2008 you were nominated the United States Ambassador to Finland. Besides your diplomatic duties, you have decided to be involved in the environment actions and actually took a biking tour around the country to support a fundraising for the Baltic Sea cleaning. How did you find the time in Europe comparing to US, from the economic, education, lifestyle perspective?

[Barbara Barrett] 

I felt right at home in Europe.  Like the United States, Europe is very diverse.  Diversity strengthens each of these geographies, the United States and Europe.  Living and working as U.S. Ambassador to Finland, the similarities between the two nations were striking.  While the U.S. and Finland may differ in size and population, my home state of Arizona has more in common with Finland than the topography (and climate!) may suggest.  Finland and Arizona have similar populations.  Both have transformed from agriculture/silviculture to technology-based economies. Finland and Arizona both have indigenous populations seeking to preserve their traditions. 

In education, Finland has scored the highest of the 57 OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) members on the most recent PISA exams (a test of 15 year olds in these 57 industrialized countries evaluating performance in science, math and reading).  In Arizona, I have been involved with the BASIS schools, one of which was recently rated the best high school in America.  On education we can learn from Finland’s excellence and world leadership. 

I quickly discovered that we have much to admire in Finland!  Early in my consideration of the Ambassadorial assignment, I discovered that Finland excels at many key factors that I believe make it a good place to live and position it for a positive future.  As you may already know, Finland is respected as the most stable democracy in the world and noted for the absence of government corruption.  But it  is also rewarded for producing more patents per person than most countries, energized by high levels of economic freedom, admired for its educational excellence and recognized for its high ratio of telephone and Internet connections per capita. 

During my tenure, beyond official business in Helsinki, I explored Finland from top to bottom and from east to west.  During Juhannus, the Finnish Midsummer holiday, I piloted a small plane from the southern coast of Finland to the far north along the east coast and Swedish border and then back along the Russian border — making six stops to visit Finnish communities and to learn what drives their economy. Also, on weekends and during summer evenings I bicycled over 900 kilometers crossing Finland from west to east along the southern coast and then from east to west at the mid-section of the country.  By bicycle I visited saw mills and paper mills, power plants and refineries, technology centers and universities, galleries, forests and farms.  Arizonans supported and encouraged my biking efforts by donating money to help clean up the Baltic Sea for every kilometer I completed. One other special effort involved Finland’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  I drove, hiked, biked and motorcycled to each of these world treasures.  Without exception, Finns greeted me warmly at each stop.  So you see, I enjoyed my time learning the economic, education and lifestyle differences and similarities between the United States and Finland!

During 1999 you were involved in a Harvard/Oxford University program in Russia followed by a participation in a U.N. mission in Southeast Europe. Was Romania included in this project? When did you start to be exposed to our country? How did you become interested in Romania?

[Barbara Barrett] 

I am a Romania enthusiast!  Though Romania was not included in the Harvard University program in which I participated, Romania has been a valued participant in programs with Thunderbird School of Global Management and the Center for International Private Enterprise.  I first visited Romania to speak at the Center for International Private Enterprise.  Ever since, I have appreciated the Romanian people whom I have met.

Romania’s CIPE program director, Camelia Bulat, is an energetic force for economic growth, government reform and poverty reduction.  In fact, her efforts are so effective that her responsibilities have grown.  She is now program director for the CIPE Regional Office, which is based in Romania because of her team’s results. From her Bucharest office, she shares her expertise with countries in the region.  I have visited again and again, and each time I am impressed with the strength and ingenuity of the Romanian people.  As evidenced by Camelia, Romania is home to natural leadership.

In Arizona I was particularly impressed with one young Romanian expat who left his respectable job in Romania to get an International MBA at Thunderbird School of Global Management.  Even as he studied hard and lived on a tight budget, he dreamed of rejoining the MNC he had worked for in Romania, but in a higher, more secure position.  Despite his academic excellence, work experience and focused goal, there were days and weeks when his dreams seemed elusive.  Finally, his dream came true with an offer from his preferred company.  Today he has a lovely family and home in Oregon and many friends in Romania, Arizona and Oregon. His success derived naturally from his energy, hard work, perseverance and learning.  He also was successful because he always demonstrated a healthy dose of Romanian decency and charm.

Our community is hosting Romanian expatriates around the globe with varied profiles and experiences. Having an international view and such a diverse career spectrum, what would be your advice to them in regards to ‘following your dream’ to succeed someplace. What would be the key values to hold when in a similar quest?

[Barbara Barrett] 

Energy, hard work, perseverance and continual learning are key values that make dreams come true.  I encourage Romanian leaders to engage with the issues about which they are most passionate. Thoughtful leaders regularly evaluate their style and incorporate new leadership techniques and technology. Furthermore, excellence is magnetic. Be willing to dedicate your time, resources and reputation to achieve your highest goals.  It is frequently said, and for good reason, that your greatest successes emerge from experiences that initially frightened you most.  As you develop your dream career, aim high!