The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 146th anniversary Thursday with a Ugandan immigrant’s inspiring tale of global success amid the national controversy over America’s temporary refugee ban.
Derreck Kayongo, founder of the Global Soap Project, told nearly 1,000 business, community and elected leaders at the Marriott Marquis San Diego about the importance of partnerships, business conscience and passion in changing the world.
“It’s important to understand that business doesn’t operate in a vacuum. I would have never built Global Soap without partnerships,”said Kayongo in an interview before the event.
His soap project fights hygiene-related disease by collecting discarded soap from hotels and reprocessing it for distribution to vulnerable populations worldwide. The project continues, but he has moved on to become CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, a new museum in Atlanta that is attracting national attention.
Kayongo said that while partnering is important, it only works if a business has a conscience and its leaders have a passion for their work.
“If your business doesn’t have a conscience and it’s only focused on making money, then it’s an empty business — it doesn’t have a soul,” he said. “We want to have businesses that connect to the soul of the community where they reside.”
Reflecting on his experience as a refugee, he said what makes America successful is its capacity to give people a second chance.
“I would not be here in this capacity if I had not been given a second chance,” he said. “Ellis Island is exactly the symbol of what it means to be a refugee with a chance.”
Kayongo’s message to San Diego business leaders comes amid national controversy over President Trump’s 120-day ban on refugees and local worries about deteriorating economic relations with Mexico.
The chamber counts as one of its major goals advancing the U.S.-Mexico relationship and cross-border commerce, and has been outspoken in support of the North American Free Trade Agreement. The theme of Thursday’s event was “building together” to improve San Diego.
“The chamber has never been stronger than it is today and that is because of the support of our members, partners, and friends,” said Jerry Sanders, chamber president and CEO. “We will build on that strength over this next year to advance sound policy that will help business grow and continue to drive San Diego forward.”
The chamber presented awards to two local leaders who have made a difference in the community:
- Thella Bowens, longtime CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, received the “Moving San Diego Forward” award her work in transforming the airport into an international gateway.
- Philanthropist Darlene Shiley received the “Herb Klein Spirit of San Diego” for making a significant and lasting impact on the region.
