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Devon Harris

Devon Harris

Keynote Speaker: Member of First Jamaican Bobsled Team; Featured in Hit Disney Movie, "Cool Runnings"

Devon Harris Biography

Three-Time Olympian with the Original Jamaican Bobsled Team and Retired Jamaican Defence Force Captain; Leading Audiences to Visualize Success with an Olympic Mindset You may not know his name or recognize his picture. Yet his grit and fortitude helped inspire a movie you likely have viewed more than once. The 1990s feel-good blockbuster Cool Runnings sugarcoats the real story behind the original Jamaican bobsleigh team. It introduces four Caribbean islanders recruited to participate in the Winter Olympics. They had not ridden on a bobsled nor even walked on snow, never mind experienced the breathtaking cold of a Canadian mountaintop. The entire world watched, waiting to mock and ridicule them. Instead, the world came to embrace their determination and resilience. Now, nearly 30 years later, Devon Harris – the "Yul Brenner” character in the film – is a widely acclaimed international speaker and mindset-resilient coach.

The story Harris tells is far from a Disney fantasy. He shares his journey of climbing out of poverty, risking personal ridicule and safety to succeed well beyond societal expectations. Harris's story is pulsating, palpable, and awe inspiring. Most importantly, it's rich in relatable "ah-hah" examples for how to persevere through physical and emotional challenges. Of the many thousands who have heard Harris speak, many have adopted his message to "keep on pushing” as their personal mantra.

Harris draws on lessons from his impoverished and endangered childhood, eight years in the military, and decisively different struggles to three Olympics. We travel with him from Kingston, Jamaica to the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst England to the Olympics in Calgary, Canada, Albertville, France and Nagano, Japan. Harris's authenticity strikes home with all audiences. Sales people, engineers, and top executives exit his presentations uplifted, more resilient, and with their inner-winner fully awakened and ready to rise!

When his childhood mates told him he couldn't escape the boundaries of the daunting and depressing Waterhouse ghetto, Harris declared "yes, I can!"

When the British training officers at Sandhurst told him that candidates from his background could never pass enough muster to lead men, he respectfully responded, "yes, I can!"

When the elites of winter sports told his fellow Jamaican bobbers and Harris that they couldn't earn the approval of real winter olympians, he promised them and himself "yes, I can!"

Defying the odds, Harris did "escape" his destiny of being a prisoner of poverty. In fact, in 2006, he started the Keep on Pushing Foundation to provide supplies, computers and a breakfast program to his primary school in Kingston so more children could be ready when that rare opportunity knocked. Today, the foundation has expanded its scope to provide practical solutions to enhance education in disadvantaged schools across the globe.

Despite discrimination, labeling and the low expectations of narrow-minded instructors, not only did Harris impress at Sandhurst, he went on to command over 120 soldiers, received a Queen's Commission, and retired after eight years as a Captain in the JDF.

After literally crashing in front of the world, the Jamaican bobbers finished their first Winter Olympics with a valiant effort that earned the respect of their competitors and convinced a world of skeptics that the tropical island men did indeed belong. Harris took part in two more Winter Olympics and helped create and nurture a Jamaican bobsled program that regularly qualifies for the Olympics!

We all dream. Some of us dream big. But few have the fortitude to overcome the endless obstacles that enable big dreams to come to fruition.

In a very engaging and relatable manner, Harris shares what it takes to find your unique vision no matter what your job or situation is; how to focus, stay on track, and how to persevere past obstacles – get up after you fall and embrace the joy in your noble journey.

Speaker Devon Harris is the author of the motivational children’s book, "Yes, I Can!" and the semi-auto-biographical writings on resilience: "Keep On Pushing: Hot Lessons From Cool Runnings".

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Devon Harris and other top speakers and celebrities.

Devon Harris Speaking Topics

Keep On Pushing®

A highly customizable, entertaining program, in which Devon effectively shows how the process of pushing a bobsled is analogous to the success journey of life; how the process demands that in order for a team or organization to grow and change, EVERYONE on the team must embrace growth and change.

Devon’s presentation strongly affirms that to harness continuous success every part of an organization needs consistently high levels of:

  • clear vision and purpose
  • passionate personal effort
  • teamwork, and
  • the grit and persistence to "keep on pushing."

Devon illustrates his points by sharing the improbable journey that propelled him out of the violent ghettos of Kingston, Jamaica; to Sandhurst; to the Olympics; to international recognition (with the Disney blockbuster Cool Runnings). By enriching his inspiring story with humor, compassion, personal charisma, and real-life how-to guidance, Devon engages audiences from the moment he greets them to his final, distinctive Olympic bobsledder call for them to "keep on pushing!" The man and his message are very well suited for opening or closing keynote presentations.

Audience takeaways include:

  • clarified vision
  • invigorated individual and team purpose
  • a new or renewed appreciation for synergy and collaboration
  • permission to relentlessly pursue solutions for all challenges

Developing A Resilient Mindset

A highly engaging, high energy, high impact program in which Devon Harris demonstrates how to develop a resilient mindset and improve performance in a fast-paced world, swirling in a sea of uncertainty.

The presentation provides a POWER BOOST for the audience as Devon shares lessons learned during his personal journey, going from ghetto struggle to graduate of the most prestigious military training school in the world.

He also shares the tools that he has seen at work with athletes in the Olympics — the same ones he used with his soldiers as an army captain to help them become mentally tough so that they no longer felt deflated or even defeated but confident and determined.

Devon shares the tools that he and other Olympic athletes and military leaders employ to stay confident and focused in the face of adversity, temporary setbacks, or defeat.

Audience takeaways include how to:

  • take personal responsibility regardless of the uncontrollable event impacting them
  • reframe an experience in order to reduce stress and feel empowered
  • Bounce back from setbacks, frustration, or the occasional out-right failure.

The Captain’s Toolbox: Developing Essential Leadership Traits

Leadership isn’t defined by the job title, expertise, or years of experience. It’s about developing the perspective, skills and personal style to get results that matter. Even "born leaders" don't know or portray all the right traits or decisions at the starting line. We are all works in progress who can transform ourselves into effective leaders and more vital and valuable resources to our organizations. Expanding on the idea that “leaders are made not born” and building on the lessons he learned as a military leader and Olympic team captain, Devon's program:

  • focuses on individual development
  • affirms that those empowered to manage, supervise or direct others can continuously learn, grow and change.
  • equips attendees with the knowledge and skills to recognize their own strengths and weaknesses to quickly become more adroit leaders
  • presents proven techniques and methods that help leaders become more effective in guiding their teams to genuinely buy in and reach their goals on or ahead of schedule.

Audience takeaways include how to:

  • Inspire through authentic communication
  • genuinely empower others
  • become and stay a role model.

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

In this program Devon Harris skillfully weaves the real life improbable inspirational story of the Jamaica bobsled team with the entertaining portrayal of the Disney blockbuster Cool Runnings. He highlights some of the powerful life lessons he and his teammates learned along the way – lessons the audience can immediately apply to both their personal and professional lives. Suitable as an opening or closing keynote.

Some of these lessons and many more can also be found in Devon's book Hot Lessons from Cool Runnings.

Audience takeaways include how to:

  • conquer fear
  • employ the extraordinary power of visualization to achieve success
  • build self-esteem and confidence and reach your goals
  • define success on your own terms
  • persist in the face of insurmountable odds

The Power and Magic of Teamwork

This inspiring message sees Devon drawing on his personal experiences as the Captain of the Jamaican Bobsled Team and a former Sandhurst-trained Captain in the Jamaica Defence Force, to show how working collaboratively facilitates group/team, individual professional, and personal non-work related success.

The key ingredients for this power and magic elixir include:

  • defining and owning a clear vision
  • empowering leadership, and
  • having a process of self-evaluation and persistence

Using humor, engaging stories and powerful insights, Devon translates the challenges and triumphs of being in the military and competing in the Olympics into lessons and insights that will inspire them to your team to perform at reach peak levels as a team. Suitable as an opening or closing keynote.

The audience will learn how:

  • a clear vision allows a team to remain motivated, become remarkably efficient, and control the direction of change.
  • to identify their noble purpose – the far-reaching benefits of the mundane things they do daily.
  • to transform their organization by growing their capacity to lead.
  • to use the process of self-evaluation to help them move towards their full potential.

Devon Harris Videos

PERCEPTION CREATES YOUR OUTCOMES | A Keep On Pushing video
Keep On Pushing | Devon Harris | TEDxWilmington - YouTube
Devon Harris | Motivational Speaker | Showreel

How do I book Devon Harris to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Devon Harris for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Devon Harris, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Devon Harris or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Devon Harris for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Devon Harris, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Devon Harris are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Devon Harris, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Devon Harris speak about?

Devon Harris is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Authors, Diversity, Inspirational, Peak Performance, Sports Motivation, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Education, Motivational and Leadership.

Where does Devon Harris travel from?

Devon Harris generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Devon Harris?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Devon Harris for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Devon Harris for your next private or corporate function.

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AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Devon Harris or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

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If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Devon Harris is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Authors, Diversity and Inspirational. The estimated speaking fee range to book Devon Harris for live events is $10,000 - $20,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Devon Harris generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Coach Ken Carter, Shawn Harper and Stedman Graham. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Devon Harris for an upcoming event.

Devon Harris Speaking Topics

  • Keep On Pushing®

    A highly customizable, entertaining program, in which Devon effectively shows how the process of pushing a bobsled is analogous to the success journey of life; how the process demands that in order for a team or organization to grow and change, EVERYONE on the team must embrace growth and change.

    Devon’s presentation strongly affirms that to harness continuous success every part of an organization needs consistently high levels of:

    • clear vision and purpose
    • passionate personal effort
    • teamwork, and
    • the grit and persistence to "keep on pushing."

    Devon illustrates his points by sharing the improbable journey that propelled him out of the violent ghettos of Kingston, Jamaica; to Sandhurst; to the Olympics; to international recognition (with the Disney blockbuster Cool Runnings). By enriching his inspiring story with humor, compassion, personal charisma, and real-life how-to guidance, Devon engages audiences from the moment he greets them to his final, distinctive Olympic bobsledder call for them to "keep on pushing!" The man and his message are very well suited for opening or closing keynote presentations.

    Audience takeaways include:

    • clarified vision
    • invigorated individual and team purpose
    • a new or renewed appreciation for synergy and collaboration
    • permission to relentlessly pursue solutions for all challenges

  • Developing A Resilient Mindset

    A highly engaging, high energy, high impact program in which Devon Harris demonstrates how to develop a resilient mindset and improve performance in a fast-paced world, swirling in a sea of uncertainty.

    The presentation provides a POWER BOOST for the audience as Devon shares lessons learned during his personal journey, going from ghetto struggle to graduate of the most prestigious military training school in the world.

    He also shares the tools that he has seen at work with athletes in the Olympics — the same ones he used with his soldiers as an army captain to help them become mentally tough so that they no longer felt deflated or even defeated but confident and determined.

    Devon shares the tools that he and other Olympic athletes and military leaders employ to stay confident and focused in the face of adversity, temporary setbacks, or defeat.

    Audience takeaways include how to:

    • take personal responsibility regardless of the uncontrollable event impacting them
    • reframe an experience in order to reduce stress and feel empowered
    • Bounce back from setbacks, frustration, or the occasional out-right failure.

  • The Captain’s Toolbox: Developing Essential Leadership Traits

    Leadership isn’t defined by the job title, expertise, or years of experience. It’s about developing the perspective, skills and personal style to get results that matter. Even "born leaders" don't know or portray all the right traits or decisions at the starting line. We are all works in progress who can transform ourselves into effective leaders and more vital and valuable resources to our organizations. Expanding on the idea that “leaders are made not born” and building on the lessons he learned as a military leader and Olympic team captain, Devon's program:

    • focuses on individual development
    • affirms that those empowered to manage, supervise or direct others can continuously learn, grow and change.
    • equips attendees with the knowledge and skills to recognize their own strengths and weaknesses to quickly become more adroit leaders
    • presents proven techniques and methods that help leaders become more effective in guiding their teams to genuinely buy in and reach their goals on or ahead of schedule.

    Audience takeaways include how to:

    • Inspire through authentic communication
    • genuinely empower others
    • become and stay a role model.

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

    In this program Devon Harris skillfully weaves the real life improbable inspirational story of the Jamaica bobsled team with the entertaining portrayal of the Disney blockbuster Cool Runnings. He highlights some of the powerful life lessons he and his teammates learned along the way – lessons the audience can immediately apply to both their personal and professional lives. Suitable as an opening or closing keynote.

    Some of these lessons and many more can also be found in Devon's book Hot Lessons from Cool Runnings.

    Audience takeaways include how to:

    • conquer fear
    • employ the extraordinary power of visualization to achieve success
    • build self-esteem and confidence and reach your goals
    • define success on your own terms
    • persist in the face of insurmountable odds

  • The Power and Magic of Teamwork

    This inspiring message sees Devon drawing on his personal experiences as the Captain of the Jamaican Bobsled Team and a former Sandhurst-trained Captain in the Jamaica Defence Force, to show how working collaboratively facilitates group/team, individual professional, and personal non-work related success.

    The key ingredients for this power and magic elixir include:

    • defining and owning a clear vision
    • empowering leadership, and
    • having a process of self-evaluation and persistence

    Using humor, engaging stories and powerful insights, Devon translates the challenges and triumphs of being in the military and competing in the Olympics into lessons and insights that will inspire them to your team to perform at reach peak levels as a team. Suitable as an opening or closing keynote.

    The audience will learn how:

    • a clear vision allows a team to remain motivated, become remarkably efficient, and control the direction of change.
    • to identify their noble purpose – the far-reaching benefits of the mundane things they do daily.
    • to transform their organization by growing their capacity to lead.
    • to use the process of self-evaluation to help them move towards their full potential.

Devon Harris Videos

PERCEPTION CREATES YOUR OUTCOMES | A Keep On Pushing video
Keep On Pushing | Devon Harris | TEDxWilmington - YouTube
Devon Harris | Motivational Speaker | Showreel
Devon Harris | About Devon & Keynote Clips
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DEVON HARRIS

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