Devon Harris Biography
One of the original members of the Jamaican Olympic Bobsled team as featured in the Hollywood smash 'Cool Runnings', Devon Harris has turned his hand to inspiring others to achieve their goals as a sensational motivational speaker.
Background and career
From the slums of Kingston, Jamaica to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst; from a barefoot boy’s dream of winning a track race to a young man’s membership on his country’s first Olympic bobsled team – Devon Harris' inspiring tale of personal triumph over adversity and the uplifting story behind Jamaica’s first Winter Olympic team captivates audiences.
So engaging was the story of the misfit band of athletes from the tropical island of Jamaica at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games that it served as the basis for the hit Disney movie, “Cool Runnings.” While the movie captured the heart and soul of a team that didn’t know the meaning of the word “impossible,” the personal story of Devon Harris is a testament of one man’s refusal to accept the limitations placed on him by birth or society.
Devon Harris was born on Christmas Day, 1964. The greatest gift he ever received was the belief that a positive attitude and a never say die philosophy would carry him farther than a sense of injustice and a heart filled with anger. Devon also learned at an early age that one can either spill tears of laughter or tears of rage when faced with life’s many obstacles.
When not bringing his captivating message of inspiration and hope to audiences across the globe, Devon serves as an ambassador for Right to Play – an athlete-driven, humanitarian non-profit organization using sport and play to enhance child development and build community capacity for youth in refugee camps and disadvantaged communities throughout the world.
Devon's keynote presentations focus on the importance of having a dream, persistence in overcoming adversity, embracing change and not allowing others to define the limits of your success. He delivers programs that are comprehensively customized, inspirational and vividly descriptive; drawing strong analogies to his experiences growing up in a violent ghetto environment and achieving the status of a three-time Olympic athlete and member of the first Jamaican Bobsled Team.
Devon offers a masterful blend of entertainment and meaningful content that is fun, effective and highly motivational. Audiences love Devon because he truly speaks from the heart and has an uncanny ability to connect on a deep level. Devon’s fascinating personal story combined with his captivating speaking ability move audiences to be more introspective. They leave more focused on their own goals and dreams; clinging to a renewed sense that they can attain higher levels of personal achievement.
Speaking Topics
Devon Harris is an original Jamaican bobsled team member and 3-time Olympian, as well as a sensational mot8ivational speaker.
• Hot Lessons from Cool Runnings - Coaching for Sales and Personal success
Suitable for a kick-off or closing presentation, this motivational program draws from the powerful experiences of the real life Jamaican Bobsled Team as well as those espoused in the Disney blockbuster movie “Cool Runnings.” This dynamic presentation is as light hearted as it is poignant. The audience will leave laughing, inspired and with a better understanding of what it takes to achieve the impossible.
• The Power and Magic of Teamwork
This program is also suitable as an event kickoff. As the Captain of the Jamaican Bobsled Team and a former Captain in the Jamaica Defence Force, Devon knows what it takes to develop, inspire and direct a winning team. An incredible program for leadership and management training seminars, attendees will translate the challenges and triumphs of the first Jamaican Bobsled Team into easily applicable lessons for today’s managers and tomorrow’s leaders.
For further information or to book Devon Harris, call us on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Devon Harris Video
Devon Harris Speaker Showreel - Click play to watch a short sample video clip of Devon Harris. For more information on Devon Harris please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Devon Harris News
A selection of relevant news related to Devon Harris, Keynote Speakers and Motivational Speakers, International Speakers, Sport Speakers and Teamwork Speakers stories. For more information on Devon Harris or details as to how to book Devon Harris for your corporate event, please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Devon Harris Receives Planet Africa Award
19th October 2011
Olympic athlete and motivational speaker Devon Harris will receive the Sports and Athletic Award at the 2011 Planet Africa Awards in Toronto.
US Olympic Swimmer Amanda Beard Releases Memoir
9th April 2012
Gold Medalist Amanda Beard shares her story about growing up in the Olympic spotlight in her brand new memoir, In the Water They Can't See You Cry.
Ronnie O’Sullivan Wins Fifth World Title
7th May 2013
Snooker player, Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Barry Hawkins to win the Betfair World Championships at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
Mike Forde Links Business to Football
18th April 2013
Business speaker and one of the UK’s leading sports executives, Mike Forde has compared the ideas and practices used in professional football to those used in business environments.
Rasmus Ankersen Believes Scottish Football Can Improve
8th April 2013
Keynote speaker and talent coach, Rasmus Ankersen believes that Scotland has talent but has not yet been able to develop it further.
Anna Watkins Announces She is Pregnant
25th March 2013
Olympic double skulls champion and motivational speaker, Anna Watkins, has announced that she is pregnant.
Chris Boardman Supports Fellow Cyclist
4th March 2013
Olympic Gold medallist and motivational speaker, Chris Boardman, supported fellow cyclist, Martyn Irvine after his win at the World Track Championships.
Mark Hunter Deliberates Over Rio
25th February 2013
Motivational speaker and double Olympic medalist, Mark Hunter is deliberating whether or not he will return for the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.
Spencer West, Climbs Kilimanjaro
22nd February 2013
Double amputee and motivational speaker, Spencer West, proved doctors wrong by climbing Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro.
Karen Pickering defends Tom Daley
21st February 2013
Motivational speaker and former swimming world champion, Karen Pickering, has voiced her opinion on Olympic athletes receiving media attention in light of the criticism that athletes received in the run up to 2012.
Devon Harris Reviews
Devon Harris has spoken and appeared at a number of recent corporate events. Please find some client speaker testimonials and reviews for Devon Harris for a number of these events and conferences. If you would like some additional information as to how to book Devon Harris for your corporate event, then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
You are one AMAZING individual. Your story of personal achievement and accomplishment sets you miles apart from any other so-called inspirational speaker because you truly lived the experience and, through your presentation, we travel that road with you. Working with you was a breeze your grasp of our company, our culture and our business, and the ease in which you worked with the production group and emcee, all resulted in accolades, not just for you, but for me as well. You are generous in spirit and in heart and the time you gave us off-stage was immeasurable. Just about every attendee has a Devon story you managed to leave them begging for more.
He fulfilled the brief and the amount of people queueing at the end to get their books signed was testament to that. On a personal note, everyone thought he was a genuinely fantastic individual, a very inspiring guy.
Thank you so much for making our meeting a memorable event. When Devon started to speak the room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop! The audience was hanging on to every word he said. Everyone was so inspired and challenged by Devon's story. When he finished his speech Devon remained at the podium and answered questions for another 30 minutes. By this time it was 11pm, but that didn't deter the crowd from standing in line to get their pictures taken with him. In looking over our participant surveys, Devon's presentation was consistently rated as the highlight of our meeting
For further information or to book Devon Harris, call us on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
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