Additional Coverage:
- Kris Jenner, the world’s most famous ‘momager,’ says she pulled off her first negotiation when she was a flight attendant (businessinsider.com)
Before Kris Jenner became the famed “momager” of the Kardashian-Jenner empire, she honed her negotiation skills as a flight attendant in the 1970s. On a recent episode of “The Burnouts” podcast, hosted by Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, Jenner shared an anecdote from her early career at American Airlines.
Fresh out of training, Jenner had her sights set on the coveted Los Angeles flight route. However, she was told she lacked the seniority.
Undeterred, Jenner took a proactive approach. She marched into the scheduling office, a bold move for the time, and presented her case.
“Listen, I’ve got a problem. This is what I need, and this is what I know you have the power to do.
How can we meet in the middle?” Jenner recalled.
Her initiative paid off. While she didn’t get the Los Angeles route outright, she landed a spot on the substitute list, giving her the opportunity to fill in for absent crew members on her desired flights. Jenner even revealed a secret weapon: occasionally bringing brownies for the scheduling team.
This experience, Jenner explained, taught her the importance of not taking “no” for an answer and finding creative solutions. It was, she says, one of her first successful negotiations. From flight attendant to reality TV matriarch and businesswoman, Jenner has certainly come a long way, demonstrating her knack for deal-making in building her family’s brand.