Patrick Hamilton Walsh
Award-Winning Author of Talent Cities & A.I. Poverty | Global Talent & Future of Work Expert | Former Head of Talent, City of Stockholm | Advisor to Governments
Chris Gardner
Inspiration for The Pursuit of Happyness | Bestselling Author of Permission to Dream | Entrepreneur & Philanthropist
Speaker Chris Gardner went from homelessness to founding his own brokerage firm — the story Will Smith brought to life in The Pursuit of Happyness. Bestselling author of Permission to Dream, he gives audiences a master class in perseverance, fatherhood, and turning effort into outsized results. Organizations book Gardner when they need a story that genuinely moves a room and a speaker who converts inspiration into action.
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Chris Gardner biography
Motivational speaker Chris Gardner is the entrepreneur, bestselling author, and philanthropist whose remarkable journey from homelessness to financial success was immortalized in the Academy Award-nominated film The Pursuit of Happyness, in which Will Smith portrayed his life. His story has inspired audiences across more than fifty countries and continues to set the standard for resilience and self-determination.
Gardner’s path to global recognition began in the toughest of circumstances. After a U.S. Navy tour and a brief career in medical research, he set his sights on finance, earning a place in Dean Witter Reynolds’ unpaid broker-training program. The earnings were not enough to keep him housed, and he became homeless while raising his young son alone. He persevered, excelled at Bear Stearns, and in 1987 founded Gardner Rich & Co. with just $10,000 — building the firm into a multimillion-dollar institutional brokerage before selling his stake in 2006.
From Pursuit to Permission to Dream
Gardner’s autobiography The Pursuit of Happyness reached number one on the New York Times bestseller list and was translated into more than forty languages. He followed it with the bestseller Start Where You Are: Lessons in Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be. His latest book, Permission to Dream, was named Book of the Month by the Wall Street Journal upon release and became the foundation for his ongoing speaking program. Today he serves on the boards of Verify Me, The Change Company — a Community Development Financial Institution recognized by the U.S. Treasury — and Smart Easy Pay, while continuing his philanthropic work through the Chris Gardner Foundation.
His honors include multiple NAACP Image Awards, the Continental Africa Chamber of Commerce Friends of Africa Award, and recognition from the National Fatherhood Initiative and the International Rescue Committee. He has appeared on CBS News, Oprah, Today, 20/20, CNN, and Fox News, among other outlets.
As a speaker, Chris Gardner delivers a story unlike any other in the keynote circuit — and uses it to give audiences practical, hard-earned wisdom on perseverance, accountability, fatherhood, and the discipline of turning ambition into action. His keynotes leave audiences moved, motivated, and equipped to pursue what Gardner calls their own permission to dream.
Chris Gardner Speaking Videos
Chris Gardner - Somewhere in the World
Chris Gardner on the Pursuit of Happiness
Chris Gardner Keynote Topics
Drawing from his latest bestseller, Chris Gardner challenges audiences to give themselves permission to define a meaningful future and then build it deliberately. He combines lessons from his own pivot from homelessness to founder with a practical framework for setting audacious goals, sustaining motivation through setbacks, and creating personal accountability. The talk leaves senior leaders, sales teams, and emerging professionals with tools they can apply on Monday morning.
Gardner shares the full story behind the iconic film and book — the unpaid internship, the homeless shelter, the stockbroker exam, and the brokerage firm built with $10,000. More importantly, he distills the principles that carried him through. Audiences gain a clear-eyed view of what perseverance actually requires when conditions are at their worst, making this one of the most powerful opening or closing keynotes available on the speaking circuit.
Gardner unpacks the strategic decisions that turned $10,000 of capital into Gardner Rich & Co., a successful Chicago brokerage. He covers identifying the right industry, executing under pressure, building credibility from nothing, and the hard pivots required when life forces a reset. The keynote is tailored for entrepreneurs, sales leaders, and executives navigating reinvention.
Gardner introduces the concept of spiritual genetics — the values, habits, and choices we inherit, reject, or pass on. Drawing on his commitment as a single father and his philanthropic work through the Chris Gardner Foundation, he challenges audiences to take ownership of the legacy they create. The talk is especially powerful for leadership offsites, culture conferences, and organizations focused on values-based decision making.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Chris Gardner
Why Chris Gardner?
Chris Gardner is one of the few keynote speakers in the world whose life story has been told as a number-one New York Times bestseller, an Academy Award-nominated film starring Will Smith, and a Wall Street Journal Book of the Month. That recognition is only the headline. On stage he is direct, structured, and entirely unfiltered, drawing on decades as a founder, philanthropist, and student of human resilience to give audiences principles they can use immediately. Booking Chris Gardner through Aurum Speakers Bureau brings to your event the rare combination of a deeply moving narrative, a Wall Street veteran's strategic mind, and a master speaker who knows exactly how to translate his story into action for your team.
What is Chris Gardner's story?
Chris Gardner served in the U.S. Navy and worked as a medical researcher before pursuing a career in finance. After being accepted into Dean Witter Reynolds' unpaid broker-training program, he became homeless while raising his toddler son alone in San Francisco. He completed the program, joined Bear Stearns, and in 1987 founded Gardner Rich & Co. with $10,000. He sold his stake in 2006 to launch Christopher Gardner International Holdings, the same year his memoir The Pursuit of Happyness was published.
What books has Chris Gardner written?
Gardner has written three bestsellers: The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), his memoir that became a number-one New York Times bestseller and the basis for the Will Smith film; Start Where You Are: Lessons in Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (2009); and Permission to Dream, his most recent book, named Book of the Month by the Wall Street Journal upon publication.
What does Chris Gardner speak about?
His most-requested keynotes cover Permission to Dream, the Pursuit of Happyness story, overcoming obstacles, spiritual genetics, hard pivots, fatherhood, and entrepreneurship. He tailors each talk to the audience and is particularly powerful as an opening or closing keynote for sales kickoffs, leadership summits, and culture-defining moments. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring Chris Gardner to your stage.
How to book Chris Gardner as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Chris Gardner as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Chris Gardner's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Chris Gardner or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Chris Gardner speaking fee?
Chris Gardner speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Chris Gardner to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Chris Gardner.
How can I contact Chris Gardner?
We only work with Chris Gardner on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Chris Gardner and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Chris Gardner speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Chris Gardner for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Chris Gardner for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Chris Gardner is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Chris Gardner for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
