More than 2,100 Coloradans, some representing companies across the state, are expected to be in church in August for lessons on business leadership.
From its main campus in northwest suburban Chicago, one of the nation’s largest churches, Willow Creek Community Church, plans to beam via satellite its 10th Annual Leadership Summit to 100 U.S. locales – including churches in Colorado Springs, Highlands Ranch and Grand Junction. More than 50,000 people are expected to attend the three-day conference in person or at remote locations.
“We’re tired of watching our leaders and our captains of industry being hauled away in handcuffs,” said Paul Braoudakis, director of communications for the Willow Creek Association. “We’re saying there is a better way.”
And yet “the church doesn’t hold a monopoly on best leadership practices,” which is why the conference contains plenty of perspective from non-Christians, Braoudakis said. Among this year’s featured speakers are Southwest Airlines president Colleen Barrett; Rick Warren, author of the best-seller, “The Purpose-Driven Life”; Guardian Angels founder and president Curtis Sliwa; and Northwestern University business professor Jack Groppel, who specializes in helping business leaders thrive in high-stress environments.
Southwest Airlines senior spokesman Ed Stewart said Tuesday that he wasn’t surprised when Barrett, the first and only woman to be president of a major U.S. airline, agreed to speak at the conference. Barrett, he said, “is a fanatic about the golden rule,” who insists that the words “employee” and “customer” be capitalized in all correspondence generated by the company.
“She gets to the heart before she gets down to business, and that always surprises people,” he said.
Among those planning to be in the Colorado audience when Barrett speaks are Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder Nancy Doty, and Mike Ward, president and general manager of Kuni Lexus in Littleton. Both have attended the conference in previous years.
“You don’t have to be a Christian to get a lot out of it that you can apply to any workplace,” Ward said. “Good advice about leadership is good advice about leadership.”
Staff writer Christine Tatum can be reached at 303-820-1015 or ctatum@denverpost.com.
Leadership summit
Dates: Aug. 11-13
Site: Via satellite from Willow Creek Association.
Admission: $75 to $245 per person for registration before Thursday; rates higher after that
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