SACRAMENTO–Perspectives 2009: An American Experience brings to Sacramento author and entrepreneur Guy Kawasaki—international technology guru, among America’s best business speakers and by Forbes’ calculation, the most influential Twitterer in the world.
Known as one of the top 50 bloggers with the web column: How to Change the World, Kawasaki’s expertise is grounded in the early days of the PC revolution in Silicon Valley, where as an Apple employee, he helped market the Macintosh in 1984 by creating passionate user-advocates for the brand.

“Business people attending Perspectives will enjoy not only a dynamic, out-spoken commentator but one who possesses keen insight into current day business practices,” said Matt Mahood, Metro Chamber president & CEO. “With Sacramento working on becoming a green and clean tech center, we can learn much from him.”
A venture capitalist, Kawasaki currently is managing director of Garage Technology Ventures, a seed-stage and early-stage venture capital fund. Other business ventures include Fog City Software that created an email and list server products and Alltop.com, an “online magazine rack” of popular topics on the web made successful by social networking tools such as Twitter.
Sharing his vision with irreverent wit, Kawasaki’s passion at mentoring entrepreneurs is another example of an American Experience that will be on display Oct. 9 at Perspectives. Like many of the other top Twitters, Kawasaki also ranks prominently—ninth place—on Forbes’ annual listing of the Internet’s most famous people. Although he’s been called a business legend, Kawasaki says that being a legend shouldn’t be a goal. “What you should do is create a great product or service—the goal is to change the world—if you do that, maybe you’ll be a legend.”
Guy Kawasaki’s newest book, Reality Check: The Irreverent Guide to Outsmarting, Outmanaging, and Outmarketing Your Competition is an all-in-one guide for starting and operating great organizations that ignore passing fads in business theory. He is also the author of nine books including The Art of the Start, which has become a highly acclaimed book for small business.
Since 1995, the Metro Chamber has introduced the region’s business people to some of the world’s most influential and world-renowned leaders including President George H.W. Bush, Gen. Colin Powell, Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Gov. Ann Richards, President Gerald Ford, Capt. Jim Lovell, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Perspectives was launched in celebration of the Metro Chamber’s 100th anniversary and century-long service to the community. Annually drawing an audience of nearly 2,500 people, the day-long program is informative and creates first-class networking opportunities for business and civic leaders.

The complete speakers lineup for Perspectives 2009: An American Experience comprises Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, NFL Hall of Famer/Fox Sports Analyst, Howie Long, Personal Finance Expert/TV Host Jane Bryant Quinn, Flags of Our Fathers Author James Bradley, Author/Entrepreneur Guy Kawasaki and returning emcee, Fox News Radio Host Tom Sullivan.

Perspectives will be held 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9 in the Sacramento Convention Center. Tickets are $195 for Metro Chamber members and $245 for the public. Tables of 10 are $1,950/$2,450. Tickets can be purchased online at the Perspectives website or via the events hotline at 916-444-1919.

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The Sacramento Metro Chamber is the largest, oldest and most prominent voice of business in the greater Sacramento area. Representing nearly 2,200 member businesses and business organizations in the six-county Sacramento region, the Metro Chamber serves as the region’s leading proponent of regional cooperation and primary advocate on issues affecting business, economic development and quality of life.

When citing the organization, please use our preferred name:
Sacramento Metro Chamber on first reference and Metro Chamber on second reference.