John Busselmaier, a University of Denver business student, secured a ticket about a month ago to hear corporate guru Jack Welch speak. The reason?
“Do you want to learn painting from an art teacher or from Pablo Picasso?” Busselmaier asked. “It’s the chance to learn from a legend.”
Busselmaier, 28, was among 500 students and businesspeople who on Thursday afternoon packed a DU auditorium to see the former CEO. Welch, who until 2001 ran General Electric, visited Denver to promote his latest best-selling book, “Winning.”
During the 60-minute session, Welch answered questions from audience members and from a moderator. He touched on topics from Social Security to business ethics to the condition of the U.S. economy.
“A company’s job is to win,” Welch said. “A losing company does nothing for employees or the community.”
Welch also spoke about the pending Qwest-MCI merger, a deal where “the winner may be the loser,” he said.
“MCI has to look a lot prettier at $6 billion than at $10 billion,” said Welch, drawing laughs.
Some of the students spoke of Welch as if he were a rock star.
“I love the guy,” said Phil Onetto, 20, a sophomore. “As businesspeople go, he’s the man.”
One student said Welch’s visit reflected well on the university.
“It says something about our college to get someone like him to come here,” MBA student Bud Esquibel said.
On his latest tour, Welch has spoken at dozens of business schools, including Harvard, Stanford and MIT.
“It’s exciting to give (my) view to these kids,” the 69-year-old Welch said afterward. “They don’t have to buy it, but I hope it gives them something to think about.”
Earlier in the day, Welch visited the Tattered Cover Book Store in Lower Downtown.
Nearly 200 people attended the book signing, where Welch gave career counseling to several members of the audience.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I couldn’t pass up,” said Trent Balzer, 38, a financial consultant who took a long lunch to get three signed copies of “Winning.”
“It was worth it,” he said.
Other people said the exchange offered practical tips from Welch, GE’s chief executive from 1981 to 2001.
“It’s all about management styles, and it helps to compare mine with his,” said Thomas Carlisle, who celebrated his 66th birthday with a handshake from Welch. “I’ve been tracking his career for 25 years.”
Staff writer Will Shanley can be reached at 303-820-1473 or wshanley@denverpost.com.
