Can Do Culture – Air Asia

by Kerry Larkan on June 5, 2009

Right now there are two “R” words dominating the business world neither very palatable and both related to tough times. However last week in Kuala Lumpur I heard a very bright young guy talking about the airline business and the company he runs – Air Asia.

His name was Azran Ozman Rania thirty something (about 35) Harvard graduate who has created a real can do culture at Air Asia. A business that will be interesting to watch over the next 5 – 10 years.

Creating a great culture starts at the top and Azrans’ attitude is infectious and dynamic. He is clearly an adrenalin junky and the young gang at Air Asia love that we can do it attitude. He runs and surf’s for fun and uses all the latest social networking tools to keep in touch with people.

This airline has built a lot of TRUST with its customers and its staff. What matters most is maintaining that trust through the on going challenges of these interesting times and a growing business.

When you’ve survived 9/11, tsunami, fuel cost spikes, bird flu, financial crisis and now Swine flu I guess it might all seem too easy?

I’m reminded of the comment Warren Buffet once made “In the business world, the rear view mirror is often more clear than the windshield.”

Seems to me the team at Air Asia is looking way beyond the windshield in creating a winning formula when it comes to its people, its customers and its shareholders. The last thing they’re focused on is either recession or retrenchment.