Women's Conference

The Women’s Conference is an annual conference and nonprofit organization led by California First Lady Maria Shriver and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. As an organization, the Women's Conference works year-round to empower women through scholarships, mentoring, microloans, and support of women's issues.

The 2009 event, held October 26 and October 27, featured speakers Madeleine Albright, Geena Davis, Richard Branson, Valerie Jarrett, Katie Couric, Elizabeth Edwards and Maria Shriver. The conference is held each year in Long Beach, California, at the Convention Center. 25,000 people were projected to attend.

The Conference is also the venue for the presentation of the Minerva Awards, given to honor women who are working to 'make this world a more compassionate, tolerant and just place'. http://www.californiawomen.org/minerva-awards/ <ref> The 2009 awardees were Dr. Jane Goodall, Agnes Stevens, Dr. Kathy Hull, and Helen Waukazoo.

The conference began as a forum for female small business owners in 1985, when it was called "The California Governor & First Lady's Conference on Women". Under the leadership of Maria Shriver since 2004, it has grown into a multi-day event with leaders from the business, political, entertainment and spiritual communities for the purpose of sharing experiences, inspiration, and finding common ground.

Although there are other conferences and events targeted toward improving the lives of women, the Women's Conference differs in the breadth of its scope. It is not strictly feminist, religious, or business-oriented, but spans these and other issues as they relate to women.