Flying High: Ed’s Words of Wisdom from the Real World

The son of a small town grocer in Burlington, Vermont, Ed Colodny eventually became the CEO of a major airline and president of a university and medical center. Along the way he studied violin and considered becoming a concert violinist but instead chose to pursue a career in law. In his memoir, he takes us through his career experiences and shows how he met challenges at the negotiating table, kept corporate raiders at bay, provided his employees with a good work environment, solved financial problems at a university, influenced students to replace a disruptive smoke-in with a creative festival, and got a mismanaged and overspent hospital building project back on track. Ed’s career, as well as his family life, was shaped by values and principles that guided his choices. His memoir provides insights into how he created a happy and productive life.