As Professional BusinessWomen of California celebrates its 12th annual conference we look forward with much anticipation and to the past with much pride. Each conference lauds the past and future accomplishments of women - those women who are world famous and those women who make a world of difference in their workplace, in their families and in their communities. Included are women from entrepreneurial pursuits to major enterprises, from education to social services. These accomplished women have achieved what was once unobtainable for their gender.

Rosabeth Moss Kanter, Ph.D., Professor at the Harvard Business School and Author of books on leading business theory addressed the 1989 conference and shared with us keen insight into business. Mimi Silbert, President, The Delancey Street Foundation told the 1992 conference about the odds-defying success of her organization and how she has created an environment for teaching self-reliance to those that few others would attempt to serve.

In 1995, Lynn Martin, Former Secretary of Labor discussed her accomplished career from motherhood to leading labor policy. In 1996, Dr. Maya Angelou, Author, Professor and Poet delivered an inspirational address about how to accomplish what may appear impossible. Anita Roddick, CEO, The Body Shop talked to the 1996 and 1998 conferences about making a business that makes environmental sense. In 1997, Dr. Mae Jemison, the First African American Woman Astronaut, told us about her vision as a young girl to go to the moon and how she ignored the "no's" to say, "yes" to her dream. In 1998, Dr. Nancy Snyderman encouraged all women to take control of their own healthcare, while Jackie Joyner Kersee spoke of the commitment she consistently makes in giving 100% effort to all her endeavors. In 1999, Governor Ann Richards shared her inspiring story and challenged the audience while Nora Ephron discussed her path to success as a screenwriter and director.

The year 2000 brought the first mother and daughter keynoters, Cokie Roberts, the co-anchor of ABC news program "This Week " and her daughter Rebecca Roberts, host of KQED-TV's " Digital West" to offer the perspective of two generations and how a changing world has impacted their careers in the broadcasting arena.