Meet Romero Malone

Class of 2023 BEQ Pride LGBTQ Leader Under 40

Pronouns: He, Him

Age: 27

Who or what inspires your leadership purpose? And why?

“The who inspires the what. Whether we like it or not, our community, and our environments, no matter how easy or difficult, cultivate us as leaders. When things don’t look their best, as a leader, you smile. You put on a brave face because you know somebody is depending on you. Dr. King once said, If I can help somebody as I pass along,…, then my living will not be in vain. That, to me, is leadership. It is the creed that I live by, and I hope through my leadership journey, I can continue to help as many as I can. ~ Romero Malone

Romero Malone is a 27-year-old Memphis native, flight attendant and inflight recruiter for SkyWest Airlines. In October of 2020, Romero became the first Black Gay and youngest (25) Labor Union President at SkyWest Airlines in the company’s 50-year history. There he would oversee 5,000 plus flight attendants at the world’s largest regional airline carrier in addition to creating and enhancing several policies, fighting for better pay, and flight attendant quality of life. After his stint as Labor Union President, Romero transitioned to the role of Inflight Recruiter, where he is responsible for hiring the best and the brightest flight attendants in the industry. He has been an advocate for open house hiring events hosted by SkyWest Airlines, where he participates by promoting the available job opportunities within the Memphis metro area. 

Romero believes he must make a difference in any leadership position he holds. He is passionate about equality, diversity and most of all inclusion. Each person, no matter how they identify (Black, white, Hispanic, gay, or transgender) “should all be treated with respect and value,” says Romero. “That is always what I have always believed in and will continue to strive for.” Romero demonstrated his belief in equality, diversity and inclusion as union president during Pride. “When I took my position as President of my previous organization, I made it my mission during Pride Month to do something no other Labor Union President had done, which is educating our colleagues and staff on why we share our pronouns. Understanding an individual’s uniqueness and their right to be authentic without fear of retribution of discrimination, especially in the workplace is a value Romero holds dear. Romero also committed to making sure SkyWest increased its inclusivity programs and initiatives.  

Fighting for what’s right has always been something Romero has believed in according to his friends and colleagues. Even as a high school student, Romero was a community activist. As a teenager, Romero organized a student-led peaceful protest in 2012 at Carver High School in Memphis. Romero realized at an early age his voice matters. For this valiant effort, Romero received the 2013 Student of the Year Award. Check out this heartfelt message Romero shared with his SkyWest colleagues in late 2020. Romero’s leadership is what is needed for a more equitable future.

To learn about more leaders recognized by BEQ Pride, visit https://businessequalitymagazine.com/MoreLeaders

To connect with this leader, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/romero-malone-6b8579200