Devon Harris

The inspirational story of keynote speaker Devon Harris’ personal triumph over adversity has been watched by millions in the Disney hit movie, “Cool Runnings”. Chronicling his journey from the slums of Kingston, Jamaica to the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, England, the amazing story behind Jamaica’s first Winter Olympic team continues to captivate and challenge audiences around the globe.

The unbelievable story remains remarkable – a band of misfit Jamaican athletes unite to form the country’s first bobsled team to compete in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. Although the movie captured the heart and experiences of the team, the personal story of Devon Harris is itself a tale fit for Hollywood. Devon refused to accept the limitations placed on him by birth and society and chose to live a life free of the word “impossible.”

Born on Christmas Day in 1964, Devon was given a wonderful gift. His father imparted to him the belief that positive attitude and focused determination would carry an individual further than perceived injustice and a resentful heart. While the slums of Jamaica brought an understanding of suffering, Devon quickly learned that tears of laughter are much more powerful than tears of rage. It was during these years that his never-say-die attitude was firmly embedded in his heart and mind.

Today, keynote speaker Devon Harris has spoken to hundreds of thousands of individuals with a challenge to embrace life’s obstacles and learn from each failure. When not traveling to speak, he oversees the growth and development of The Keep On Pushing Foundation. The Foundation’s principle mission is to nourish the bodies, minds and spirits of students in impoverished areas around the world. With adequate physical and emotional growth, the children will be empowered to reach their full potential and achieve great dreams.

Devon also serves as ambassador for Right to Play, an athlete-driven, humanitarian non-profit organization utilizing sport/play to enhance child development and grow community for youth in refugee camps and disadvantaged communities throughout the world.

Hot Lessons from Cool Runnings – Coaching for Personal and Professional Success

This program addresses the powerful role teamwork plays in both your personal and professional life. A high level of team work has been responsible, in part, for a great home environment, miracle drugs, breakthrough technologies, Olympic medals, and conquests of space and sea because these teams have the ability to synergistically harness their members’ talents and energy. As the Captain of the Jamaican Bobsled Team and a former Sandhurst-trained Captain in the Jamaica Defence Force, Devon knows what it takes to develop, inspire and direct a winning team and translates the challenges and triumphs of the first Jamaican Bobsled Team into easily applicable lessons for today’s managers and tomorrow’s leaders.

The Power and Magic of Teamwork

This program addresses the powerful role teamwork plays in both your personal and professional life. A high level of team work has been responsible, in part, for a great home environment, miracle drugs, breakthrough technologies, Olympic medals, and conquests of space and sea because these teams have the ability to synergistically harness their members’ talents and energy. As the Captain of the Jamaican Bobsled Team and a former Sandhurst-trained Captain in the Jamaica Defence Force, Devon knows what it takes to develop, inspire and direct a winning team and translates the challenges and triumphs of the first Jamaican Bobsled Team into easily applicable lessons for today’s managers and tomorrow’s leaders.

Out of many; One: An Olympic Athlete’s View of Diversity in the Workplace

A fresh look at how diversity in the workplace is not just a legal mandate or corporate ethic – it is fundamentally practical, and brings the best teams to the playing field. Devon brings a creative and inspiring look at how at work, as in the Olympics, what really matters is performance, attitude and teamwork. With humor and understanding that comes from living what he believes, Devon delivers a compelling message to groups of all sizes about how to be more bottom-line successful by embracing and applying the innate strengths of a diversity philosophy.

Keep On Pushing™: An Olympic Athlete’s Message of Persistence

Devon brings his entertaining and effective message of how to ‘keep on pushing’, how persistence is a key catalyst in any success formula. Devon’s presentation blends the need for every part of an organization to have the ability to persist, but not without good doses of wisdom, preparation, talent, teamwork, humor, passion, hard work and smart planning. Devon illustrates his presentation with his improbable story of a road that took him from the violent ghettos of Kingston, Jamaica; to Sandhurst; to the Olympics; to the hit Disney film Cool Runnings. With humor and compassion and real-life how-to guidance, Devon inspires the audience to ‘keep on pushing’ – his distinctive phrase when asked how he gets that bobsled down that run.

School Runnings: The Power of Teamwork in Schools

As the Captain of the Jamaican Olympic bobsled team, a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England and a captain in the Officer corps of the Jamaica Defence Force, Devon knows what it takes to develop, inspire and direct a winning team under the most high-pressured circumstances. As a parent and a volunteer in support of children causes around the world, Devon is acutely aware of the level of cooperation and teamwork that is necessary not just to groom successful students but to develop productive members of society.

In his customized keynote presentation, The Power of Teamwork in Schools, Devon draws on his wealth of experience to creatively challenge administrators and teachers to be at their best by having a clear vision, embracing diversity, and working as a cohesive unit. Devon uses his book, Keep On Pushing: Hot Lessons from Cool Runnings to bring specific ideas to the entire school community of administrators, teachers, staff, students and parents. He teaches how effective teamwork between administrators and teachers positively affect the student body and inspires them to do their best. Punctuated by humor, Devon’s keynote will give audience members the practical tools they need to develop a first-rate classroom and school.

*This program is also available as a half-day Workshop

School Runnings: Yes, I Can!

Based on the story of the first Jamaican Olympic bobsled team and Devon’s popular children’s book of the same name, administrators and teachers and staffers are encouraged to see beyond the challenges of their current situations to the possibilities that lie within each of them. In this program Devon skillfully draws analogies between his personal experiences and the challenges the audience is facing. His poignant stories of triumph over adversity illustrate Devon’s belief that each person has the right to say “Yes, I Can!” to their dreams; to believe in themselves; to plan and work towards these dreams; to persist – despite any and all obstacles. By the time Devon is finished speaking each audience member will know that they have the obligation, the right and the ability to live the best life they can.

This program is not only awe-inspiring and highly motivational; it leaves audience members with practical tools they can immediately apply to both their personal and professional lives.

School Runnings: Success Through Diversity

From the violent neighborhood of Olympic Gardens in Kingston, Jamaica to competing as a member of the only all- black team in the Winter Olympic Games, to the prestige of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England and the Officer corps of the Jamaica Defence Force, to being an immigrant and now a citizen in the United States – Devon’s life experiences provide him with a unique view of how an individual as well as an organization can succeed by embracing diversity.

Success Through Diversity allows the audience to see that everyone’s unique perspectives and talents and their particular way of doing things give them something significant to contribute not only to their particular organization but to the entire community.