Rudolph Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who was presiding over the Big Apple when terrorists struck Sept. 11, 2001, knows about leadership.
“Every successful leader has been an optimist,” Giuliani said during a motivational seminar Thursday at the Pepsi Center. “A leader is the quintessential captain of the ship.”
Giuliani was one of a handful of superstars from the worlds of politics and business to speak at the Get Motivated Seminar. Other speakers included personal-finance guru Suze Orman, Forbes Inc. chief executive Steve Forbes and former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.
The one-day conference attracted nearly 30,000 people to the Pepsi Center and the Denver Coliseum, with the speakers shuttling between the two sites. There were also satellite feeds at two other metro locations.
The crush of people going to the seminar snarled traffic and made parking near the Pepsi Center difficult, several attendees said.
“It was wall-to-wall,” Debbie Melvin, a 52-year-old Westminster resident, said of the Thursday-morning drive on northbound Interstate 25.
Ticket prices at the door were $225 apiece, although companies could send a group of 10 workers for as little as $49 total, according to a website promoting the event. The day-long seminar was staged by Tampa, Fla.-based Get Motivated Seminars Inc.
Speakers offered tips about life, leadership, money management and sales.
“It’s life-changing,” Scott Shroyer, a 46-year-old United Airlines employee, said of the seminar. “I’m going to begin by setting goals about what I need to do to succeed.”
Shroyer said he was inspired by Forbes, who spoke of how his grandfather, Malcolm, started with little and amassed a fortune.
Deb Blanchard, a 52-year-old Denver nurse, said the seminar motivated her to take control of her financial future.
“I’m pumped,” she said. “I came to see the speakers, but I had no idea how much I’d learn.”
Jennifer Evans, 26, said she was disappointed that at least one speaker, investment author Phil Town, used the venue to pitch upcoming stock-trading seminars and a website.
“That was unexpected,” she said. “It made it less motivational.”
Staff writer Will Shanley can be reached at 303-820-1260 or wshanley@denverpost.com.
