“Probably the hardest question I get asked is, 'How do I choose between passion and practicality?' I can't answer that. I had to do both. I was passionate about pursuing a career in financial services. But I was also passionate about feeding my child.”

American businessman and motivational speaker

Chris Gardner is an American businessman and motivational speaker. He became a stockbroker in the mid-1970s and later founded Gardner Rich & Co in 1987. In 2006, he sold his minority stake in the firm and published a memoir that was later adapted into the film The Pursuit of Happyness. He is also known for speaking about persistence, hardship, and turning setbacks into progress.