It was a day of speeches, but it was anything but dull. At the Sacramento Metro Chamber’s Perspectives 2009 event, no topic was too controversial. Really. One of the speakers even quoted Chairman Mao Tse-Tung. Five heavy-hitters in a variety of fields, including Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, took the stage at the Sacramento Convention Center Friday and delivered speeches that were decidedly energetic and provocative. The high-profile speakers spoke to about 2,000 people during the chamber’s event, which was titled “An American Experience.” Rice shared the spotlight with entrepreneur Guy Kawasaki, finance expert Jane Bryant Quinn, author James Bradley and creativity expert S

The Sacramento Metro Chamber office has been buzzing this week as Chief Executive Officer Matt Mahood and the rest of the staff finished last-minute details for their big annual event. One of the most important things they've done to prepare for Friday's "Perspectives 2009: An American Experience" is to work closely with each of the nationally recognized guest speakers. Surrounded by signed and framed programs from past Perspectives, Mahood talked earlier this week by phone with speakers preparing for their presentations. The work continued Thursday when speakers started flying in from around the country and Metro Chamber staff became chaperones for the VIPs. Such behind-the-scenes work

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 busi