The Pursuit of HappYness inspired the critically acclaimed and iconic film starring Will Smith, who received Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award nominations for his portrayal of Gardner. Gardner’s second bestselling book, Start Where You Are, was published in 2009 during the global financial crisis. His book Permission to Dream was selected as a “Book of the Month” by The Wall Street Journal upon its publication.

Gardner believes the message behind The Pursuit of HappYness is perhaps even more relevant today than when the film was first released. The challenges and uncertainty that emerged globally beginning in 2020 reinforced the importance of being able to accept, adapt to, embrace and expect change. For Gardner, change is not temporary—it is a constant that individuals and organizations must learn to navigate.

Gardner knows firsthand what it means to overcome extraordinary circumstances. In the early 1980s, he became a working homeless veteran while raising his toddler son. During that period, two of the most important decisions of his life were tested to the highest degree.

The first was his commitment that his children would always know who their father was. Gardner consciously chose to break the cycles he was born into, including child abandonment, child abuse, alcoholism, domestic violence, fear, poverty and illiteracy. His second defining decision was to become world-class at whatever he chose to do. That commitment ultimately led him to Wall Street and a 30-year career in the financial services industry, providing the foundation for four decades of entrepreneurial experience.

Today, Gardner is focused on using those experiences to help create the next “Chris Gardner.” His message is simple: If he can do this, others can do that. Through his story, Gardner challenges audiences to recognize the power of choice, break cycles, embrace change and give themselves permission to dream.

Gardner has also evolved the way he connects with audiences, moving beyond traditional lecture-style presentations to engaging fireside conversations. His “In Conversation with Chris Gardner” format combines candid thoughts, lessons and stories drawn from his life and decades of entrepreneurial experience with frequently asked questions and questions submitted by the host organization and audience.

These open and transparent conversations, often enhanced by relevant moments from The Pursuit of HappYness, create an authentic and highly personalized experience. The format allows Gardner to address what matters most to each audience while creating a genuine dialogue around resilience, change, entrepreneurship, the power of choice and the pursuit of happyness. Read Less ^