Imagine boarding a plane for what should be an ordinary flight — only to hear, moments after takeoff, that you’ll be making an emergency landing in the icy waters of the Hudson River in January. That moment forever changed the life of Dave Sanderson, survivor of US Airways Flight 1549 and the last civilian to exit the aircraft in what the world now knows as the Miracle on the Hudson. This year marks 17 years since that fateful morning.
When Dave joined me on C-Suite Success, it was impossible not to reflect on how a single defining moment can reshape not just a life, but a mission. Dave didn’t simply survive a historic event; he transformed it into a blueprint for leadership, resilience, and purpose that every executive can learn from.
Long before the Hudson, Dave understood something fundamental about success. As an eight-year-old winning his first punt, pass, and kick competition, he learned a lesson many people never fully grasp: effort drives results. Put in the reps, do the work, and outcomes follow. But as Dave shared, success isn’t just about achieving a goal—it’s about the fulfillment and happiness that come with it. Plenty of people reach milestones and still feel empty. True success, he believes, is when achievement and fulfillment intersect.
That perspective is especially relevant as we think about future generations of leaders. One of the most powerful — and difficult — lessons Dave shared was the importance of failure. His parents gave him the opportunity to fail early in life, forcing him to make decisions, face consequences, and grow stronger as a result. As parents and leaders, we often want to shield others from hardship, but Dave was candid: if you don’t learn to fail when the stakes are lower, you may not be mentally prepared when everything is on the line.
That truth came into sharp focus on that frigid morning floating on the Hudson.
After the plane safely hit the water – an incredible feat made possible by extraordinary preparation and leadership from the flight crew — there was a second crisis unfolding. One hundred fifty-five people stood on a sinking plane, in freezing conditions, after a traumatic event. And yet, no one panicked. No one lost control. That, in itself, is a leadership lesson.
Dave described how, in that moment, he relied on something ingrained in him from sports: always have a game plan. His plan was simple — aisle up, out. But when it was his turn to leave, everything changed. He heard his mother’s voice, a lesson from childhood that redirected his decision-making in an instant: If you do the right thing, God will take care of you.
Dave chose to go toward the back of the plane to help others, becoming the last passenger out — not because he intended to be a hero, but because doing the right thing was part of who he was raised to be. That moment became the cornerstone of his leadership philosophy.
From that experience emerged one of the most powerful frameworks Dave now teaches leaders around the world: Aviate. Navigate. Communicate.
First, you must aviate — keep the plane in the air as long as possible. In business terms, that means staying operational during uncertainty. We saw this during COVID: organizations that simply kept moving forward gave themselves a chance to win.
Second, you must navigate. Survival alone isn’t enough; you need a plan. Direction matters, especially when conditions are chaotic.
Third — and perhaps most critical — you must communicate. Not just externally, but internally. The conversations you have in your own head determine your mindset, your clarity, and your ability to execute under pressure.
As Dave spoke, I couldn’t help but think about the early days of the pandemic and the leadership shown by my business partner, our chairman and founder Jeffrey Hayzlett. From day one, he refused to cancel or retreat. Instead, he made a bold decision to push forward, to thrive rather than merely survive. That certainty became contagious—and it’s exactly what Dave describes when he says that in uncertain times, the person with the most certainty becomes the leader. Title doesn’t matter. Clarity does.
One of the most profound moments in our conversation was Dave’s reframing of pressure. Rather than something to avoid, he calls it a privilege. Pressure is what forges leaders. Like diamonds, greatness is formed under intense conditions. If you never experience pressure early on, you may not be equipped to handle it when everything is at stake.
Dave also shared a hard truth about today’s culture: too many people would rather be right than do the right thing. Leadership, however, demands the opposite. Doing the right thing — especially when it’s uncomfortable or unpopular — is what builds trust, longevity, and real impact.
What excites Dave most today is seeing his principles come to life through the right associations. His formula is simple but powerful: Purpose + Talent × Massive Action = Outcomes — but only when paired with the right people. Associations matter. Surrounding yourself with individuals who challenge you, support you, and elevate your thinking can accelerate everything.
This is why conversations like this are so critical for business leaders everywhere. Dave Sanderson’s story isn’t just about survival; it’s about how leaders show up when it matters most. In moments of pressure, uncertainty, and disruption, success is defined by clarity, character, and the courage to do the right thing.
And that is a lesson every c-suite leader needs now more than ever. Watch the full interview on C-Suite TV or listen to the podcast on C-Suite Radio.
