Fireside chat and lunch reception with Chris Gardner - a Kajora Reserve event
Kajora Global, in collaboration with Sidebar Summit, is hosting an exclusive lunch and fireside conversation with Chris Gardner — entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the real-life inspiration behind The Pursuit of Happyness.
Forbes recently named Chris Gardner #67 on its list of the 250 Greatest Self-Made Americans — a recognition he shares with the likes of LeBron James, Tyler Perry, and Dwayne Johnson, and one that places him among the most consequential builders of wealth and legacy in modern American history. Chris has noted with characteristic humor that he's particularly proud of his number. Sixty-seven looks a lot like 6-7. And if you know Chris Gardner, you know that's not a coincidence he'd let slide.
His path to that list is unlike any other. From sleeping on the floor of a public restroom in San Francisco with his young son, to founding the brokerage firm Gardner Rich & Co., to being portrayed by Will Smith in the Academy Award-nominated film — Chris Gardner's story has become the definitive American story of resilience, self-determination, and the refusal to let circumstance write the final chapter. In 2020, he took that story to the United Nations, testifying on solutions to homelessness on a global stage.
Through The Christopher P. Gardner Foundation and its flagship initiative, Permission to Dream, he has carried that mission directly to the next generation — impacting over 100,000 middle and high school students across the United States. Built on the belief that the American Dream is alive, well, and now a global opportunity, Permission to Dream gives young people career tools, financial literacy resources, leadership development, and partnerships with organizations like NASA and Mastercard — not just inspiration, but a plan.
Why this matters to the Kajora community.
The investors, family office principals, founders, and financial leaders who make up Kajora Reserve understand something that doesn't always make it into the boardroom conversation: the most durable wealth — in real estate, private capital, operating businesses, and across the industries we focus on — is built by people who understand what it costs to build something from nothing. The next generation of deal flow, of leadership, of innovation in financial services, CRE, and beyond will come from people who were told the room wasn't for them. Chris Gardner has spent his career proving otherwise — and building the infrastructure to make sure more of them get in.
That is a conversation worth having at Nasdaq.
On June 1, Jennifer Katrulya will host a candid fireside conversation with Chris, followed by a book signing and the opportunity to connect with a carefully curated room of people who understand that access, capital, and community are not separate things.
This is a Kajora Reserve event. Attendance is by private invitation only.
If you believe you belong in this room, you may request an invitation below. Requests are reviewed and invitations extended at Kajora's discretion.
This event is part of #NYTechWeek and is followed by the IPO Summit @ Nasdaq, hosted by Sidebar Summit — giving invited guests access to a full afternoon of high-caliber programming at one of the world's most recognized financial venues.
For those who have inquired about contributing to the cost of background checks for the students participating in the Chris Gardner Foundation Kids to Work program, or for general donation information, additional details will be posted soon.
We are grateful to our incredible members, sponsors and friends who make these events possible, including PKF O'Connor Davies, Asseta.ai, Bad Mermaid and Joelle Paul-Cook, Ph.D., Chai Ventures, Reflekta, CIV:LAB, Abra, Platform Ventures, our wealth management friends and additional private supporters.