The Governor and First Lady’s conference for Women was a marathon — a 12-hour day, but well worth the price of admission.
The conference this year blew away all expectations. It was bigger, better and had a more excited and diverse line up of speakers than ever before.
Kicking off the day was a humorous panel with multi, multi billionaire Warren Buffett and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger that was moderated by political pundit, Chris Matthews.
Three men at a conference with 14,000 women — It was clear the three were loving it and played ruthlessly to the house. At one point, Warren Buffett asked Chris Matthews if he thought so highly of women would have rather been one. Matthews skirted the answer…
Buffett was magnanimous, spot on and very funny.
Maria Shriver’s speech was the highlight of the day, sticking to the theme of the conference, “Be who you are—Feel it—Live it—Pass it on”.
There was not a dry eye in the house as she spoke about her journey of the past year and facing fears like the failing health of her mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, her courageous action to endorse Senator Barrack Obama, the death of her dear friend Tim Russert, the illness of her uncle, Senator Ted Kennedy and her oldest daughter’s departure to college.
Vintage Maria Shriver. Her words spoke to every woman in the house and some of the guys too!
The afternoon panel with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Pepsi’s CEO, Indra Nooyi — moderated by CNN’s Campbell Brown — was a favorite of the day. Nooyi said “The glass ceiling will go away when women help other women break through that ceiling.”
Condoleezza Rice, who was surprisingly candid and casual, said “It’s okay to be the first. If you constantly look for role models like you, then there won’t be any first”.
Rice, who described herself as a black girl from Birmingham, Alabama who wanted to study Russian, said: “Don’t let someone else define you. My advice is to do what you love and forget the rest of it.”
Alpha rock star and humanitarian Bono, the lead singer of U2, was a bit windy but very inspirational in sharing his passion for the “One Campaign” to help end poverty and sickness in Africa.
Bonnie Raitt rocked the conference to a close ending the day in at just 12 hours.
I don’t know how this Conference can be topped!!! At least until next year.