On September 20 and 21, 2007, more than 400 professionals and students participated in the California Diversity & Leadership Conference in San Francisco, Calf. Chris Gardner, CEO of Christopher Gardner International Holdings, served as the opening keynote speaker. Mr. Gardner, who was portrayed by Will Smith in the blockbuster hit The Pursuit of Happyness, shared insight on what made him so driven to become who he is today. During his remarks, he stressed how hard he worked to break the cycle of men not playing a role in his family's life. He committed to be the one to stop the pattern, and challenged the audience to do the same.

Geena Davis, a prominent figure in the film industry, was the keynote speaker on the second day of the conference. As she walked the audience through her career in film, she explained how playing strong women in various roles made her realize that the media depicted females as less important. In an effort to change the way females are represented, Ms. Davis has created a nonprofit organization that addresses such issues.

Both keynote speakers presented a common theme within their messages: Focusing on improving one small area of your life that is important to you can also have a strong impact on those around you.

Throughout the two-day conference, 28 breakout sessions and 6 summits were held on a variety of topics, including "the ABC's of Diversity" and "recruiting by creating a diverse pipeline." There was also a college job fair, which allowed attendees to connect with top employers that are also committed to diversity.

Overall, the first annual California Diversity & Leadership Conference was a huge success! The California Diversity Council is currently planning the 2008 conference, which will be held in Los Angeles in September.