NEW YORK – September 7, 2023 — Ginger Hardage, founder of Unstoppable Cultures will be inducted into the Page Hall of Fame during the Page Annual Conference on October 1 in Toronto. This honor recognizes lifetime achievement in corporate communication by individuals who have made a significant impact on the enterprises they have served or counseled.
Hardage served as the senior vice president of culture and communications at Southwest Airlines for 25 years where she led a team of 150 people responsible for building and maintaining the organization’s culture and communication. The corporate culture of Southwest Airlines is one of the most studied in the world and it was Ginger who expanded its meaning, its influence, and its place as a competitive advantage in the modern business model of the airline.
“During our time working together on the leadership team at Southwest Airlines, Ginger not only led our Culture initiatives – she cast a vision for what a world class culture should be, and then she set out to model our values on a daily basis,” said Gary Kelly, executive chairman of the board of directors at Southwest Airlines. “She is the epitome of a servant leader, and her passion for building a brand from the inside out is equal parts inspiring and innovative.” Ginger’s impact on Southwest Airlines is still felt today, as explained by Linda Rutherford, who succeeded Ginger as chief communication and administration officer, “she was my boss, mentor and very good friend. Together, we built capabilities that didn’t exist and without her vision and leadership, the Communications, Emergency Response, and Culture talent and teams would not be where they are today.”
Hardage has previously been recognized by PRWeek’s Top 50 Power list multiple times as well as PRWeek’s 50 Most Powerful Women in Public Relations. In 2015, Hardage was inducted into the PRWeek Hall of Fame. Later in 2016, she received the Leadership Legacy Award from the Plank Center. Additionally, Hardage has served as a mentor to the younger generation, having spent her time in networking groups for women in the industry as well as speaking to students at various college campuses, sharing her knowledge with the next generation of communicators. In 2017, Hardage founded Unstoppable Cultures, a brand focusing on helping organizations create and sustain culture for generations to come. As a nationally recognized keynote speaker, Hardage has reached audiences of over 800,000 in recent years. In addition, she serves as the Global Chair of Ronald McDonald House Charities, which operates in 6+ countries. “Her story is filled with industry-leading results, authenticity, humility, and grace,” said Maril Gagen MacDonald, founder and CEO of Gagen MacDonald and chair of the Page Honors Committee. “She made an enormous difference at Southwest Airlines, bringing to life a legendary corporate culture that has withstood the tests of time and adversity.”
Recent inductees to the Page Hall of Fame include Madan Bahal, co-founder and managing director of Adfactors PR, India's largest and most recognized public relations firm, PR Pioneer and Civil Rights Leader Ofield Dukes, Maril Gagen MacDonald, founder and CEO of Gagen MacDonald.
For more information or to register (members only) for the Page Annual Conference, please see here.