President of the Denver Broncos Joe Ellis spoke to approximately 900 people at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts last Thursday as a part of the Daniels College of Business Voices of Experience Speaker Series. This series brings CEOs and other leaders to DU to share their experiences in the business world.

Ellis began by discussing his career and how he came to be where he is today.

“[I was] very fortunate—got a lot of breaks along the way, which is what it takes in sports,” he said.
He said he feels lucky to hold his position, and in his leadership position, he stressed the importance of engaging employees.

“You empower people and make them feel good about what they’re doing,” said Ellis. “We are a family and everybody cares about everybody else.”

Additionally, he said he tries to foster an environment focused on results, but also one that stresses the importance of fun.

“Have fun with what you’re doing at work, but take what you’re doing at work seriously,” he said.
He said the high level executives of the Broncos staff rarely experience friction. While they do sometimes disagree, Ellis believes they are still able to work to move the Broncos in the right direction.

“It’s all about honest communication. It’s a high-powered, high-pressure business,” said Ellis. “You’ve got to do what’s in the best interest of the team.”

Next, Ellis discussed Executive Vice President and former quarterback John Elway’s role leading the Broncos. Ellis said Elway helped put the Broncos in a position for success through his competitive nature and appreciation of the business side of football.

“Business has its objectives that it needs to fulfill, and football has one objective,” he said. “Sometimes what business is doing doesn’t marry up with what football thinks should be happening. John has been terrific in dealing with that and understanding that.”

Moving on to football as a whole, Ellis said success in pro-football is about both winning games and gaining the respect of the community. He also said he considers a component of success to be the creation of a good corporate culture, and that everyone associated with the Denver Broncos plays a role in representing the Broncos franchise to the community.

“You have to be good corporate citizens, good citizens in the community—as a franchise and as an individual,” he said.

Due to that reality, Ellis says not only the Broncos players but everyone in the Broncos organization is held to a high standard.

“This team is as much as anything a public trust, and we have that obligation to act accordingly,” he said.

The topic of former Bronco’s quarterback Tim Tebow was also addressed. Ellis said John Elway had a tough time making the decision to bring in Peyton Manning, but making that decision was in the best interest of the Broncos.

“We had a chance to bring in one of the game’s greatest quarterbacks to play for us—truly a remarkable player—and John Elway had a tough decision to make,” said Ellis. “He thought he made the decision that was in the best interest of our team and I am one that believes he did do that.”

The move did not, however, come without recognition of Tim Tebow’s contribution to the Broncos, according to Ellis.

“Here was a guy that gave so many people hope and showed all the right characteristics, all the right traits, both on and off the field,” Ellis said. “I think all of us feel a real debt of gratitude to Tim and all that he did here. It’s disappointing to see that it hasn’t worked out since then, but these are decisions that football people are paid to make.”

Other topics addressed included ethical issues and player safety, player retirement and education about saving money, reaching out to new markets for sales, the fan experience and the roles of Jay Cutler, Josh McDaniels, Jon Fox and Manning on the team.

Ellis also addressed the fan loyalty experienced by the Broncos, which is something he says he tries to never take for granted.

“I’m always stunned by the neverending and overpowering support that this community gives our football team. It’s astonishing to me, because there’s plenty of stuff to do around here,” he said. “To have 76,000 people come to our games is truly remarkable, and we’re very, very lucky.”