Healthy Accountability Takes Flight: A Morning with Sun Country Airline’s CEO

The fall series concluded with a bang this last Friday. The featured speaker was Jude Bricker, CEO of Sun Country Airlines. It was an extra special morning, as it was the official celebration for the Healthy Accountability book, co-authored by my colleague Kevin Sensenig and me.  

A special thank-you goes to Java House for serving as the meeting sponsor and providing some stellar brew for the morning, and to Old National Bank for being the 2025 Good Leadership Breakfast Series sponsor. 

Jude Bricker’s Success Habits 

Jude’s leadership story is remarkable. A former Marine, he brings a mission-first mindset to his role, a quality that is evident in his direct and no-nonsense communication style. “I needed to take down the intensity as a CEO after being in the Marines,” he admitted, with a knowing smile.  

His time at Allegiant Airlines taught him the entrepreneurial spirit of scrappy innovation. And today, with personal investments in Sun Country Airlines, he’s grown the airline from 20 to 70 planes, making air travel more accessible for everyone. 

Here are the three Success Habits Jude Bricker shared: 

1. Innovation, creativity, and new ideas are the status quo: “You have to have people around you who criticize you,” Jude shared. “Every idea is worth exploring.” 

2. Straight-talk makes complex topics clear: “I’m probably too direct,” Jude confessed. People working with me say, “I’m all over you all the time about everything.” At least he’s consistent! 

3. Accountability comes from a supportive structure: “Every one of us is here for a reason. I don’t want to be a dictator, but when we need to course correct, we need to do it,” he said with determination.   

How to Kickstart Healthy Accountability in Your Organization 

This stuff is the stickiest when you share it with your teammates around you. The best way to bring healthy accountability into your organization is to get the Healthy Accountability Book Bundle. It comes with 10 books, a discussion guide, 10 airplane-shaped stress balls, and an executive summary of the book. It’s sure to spark some great conversations in your teams. Email info@goodleadership.com to inquire about getting a bundle for your team.

2026 Breakfast Series 

The spring series officially begins on February 27, featuring the speaker Steve Grove, CEO and Publisher of the Star Tribune. I know it’s going to be another great conversation. I hope to see you there!  Looking ahead to Friday’s Good Leadership Breakfast: here’s to the leaders who believe that Goodness Pays and who are ready to make healthy accountability the norm, not the exception.