The real-life inspiration behind Cool Runnings

Devon Harris Motivational keynote speaker. Three-time Olympian.

Devon Harris helped take Jamaica from a country with no snow to the Winter Olympics. Today he shows teams how to own the moment, change the frame and win the next run.

Check Devon's availability
Devon Harris, three-time Olympian and motivational keynote speaker

TRUSTED BY

  • Microsoft
  • IBM
  • Adobe
  • PayPal
  • American Express
  • Merck
  • Shell
  • Coca-Cola
  • Booking.com
3Winter Olympic Games
5Continents spoken on
14,000People in his largest audience
200+Organizations that booked him

See why audiences stand up.

Speaking Kit and more videos

Inside the room

Planners ask for "interactive". This is what it looks like.

Real moments from recent keynotes. No staging, no actors.

The whole room stands up and gets in push position
Your team chants your company's name
And the laughter is real

90-second previews

Pick your event. Devon tells you what he'd bring to it.

"Inspiration feels good. But pressure shows up after the applause."

For sales leaders planning a kickoff. How your team keeps selling when a deal slips, a competitor moves or the quarter starts badly.

Sales kickoff keynote details
Devon Harris on stage with the original 1988 Jamaican bobsled team on the screen behind him

About Devon Harris

From Olympic Gardens to the Olympic Games.

The world should never have heard of Devon Harris. He grew up in Olympic Gardens, a tough neighborhood in Kingston, Jamaica, yet he graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England and served as an officer in the Jamaica Defence Force. He started out as a barefoot boy trying to win a track race and became a founding member of the Jamaican bobsled team that inspired Cool Runnings, then went on to compete in three Winter Olympic Games.

Since his days on the bobsled track, Devon has become a corporate motivational keynote speaker and author, sharing his Keep On Pushing philosophy with Fortune 100 companies, associations and schools on five continents. He is also the founder of the Keep On Pushing Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity that helps children in disadvantaged communities get a quality education, and he has visited troops in the Persian Gulf and across the United States.

The 3R System your people will still use a month later.

R1

Responsibility

Own the moment. What is ours to own?

“Stop asking how do I win this, and start asking how do we win this.” 0:06

R2

Reframe

Change the frame. What perspective creates better options?

“Individuals that play to win don't wait for the evidence. They become the evidence.” 0:05

R3

Reset

Win the next run. What must we release, realign and do next?

“It's not why me. It's not who's to blame. But rather: now what?” 0:18

Your theme. Your goals. His story.

Devon doesn't drop a stock talk on your stage. After a prep call and a pre-event survey, he builds your meeting theme and your leaders' goals into the keynote. Here is what that sounds like.

BUILT ON THE EVENT THEME · 0:22Global sales summit with the theme "Play to Win"“That kind of brings me to the theme of this meeting, Play to Win. I absolutely love those three words.”
BUILT ON YOUR LEADERS' GOALS · 0:15Oncology leadership meeting, picking up the vision set the day before“As Ken outlined, a rather compelling vision for you yesterday, 13 launches in the next five years… can you imagine that?”

What happened after Devon spoke

119%Adobe's digital sales teams' quarter, in a historically slow Q3
1stStanding ovation for a speaker in almost 20 years at the US Bankruptcy Court

In their words · 1:23

Filmed minutes after Devon left the stage

Event hosts, a senior leader and kickoff attendees, unscripted. Captions on, sound optional.

“Good speakers come and inspire – GREAT speakers understand the objective of the meeting and personalize their message to fit.”
Gartner · recognition event
Audience applauding motivational keynote speaker Devon Harris
“Devon and his program have made such a positive impact within our Digital Sales Organization at Adobe. We came out of the keynote with a ton of positive energy…. ending the quarter hitting 119%, in what is historically low quarter. I can say, Devon keynote speech contributed to 15+% in production.”
Adobe · digital sales organization
“In looking over our participant surveys, Devon's presentation was consistently rated as the highlight of our meeting.”
American Express
“In my almost twenty years at the Court, I can honestly say that you received the first standing ovation that was given speaker.”
US Bankruptcy Court
“Devon brings perspective from an incredible personal journey to reaching heights of performance many aspire to but few can attain. He brings an energy that leaves us feeling anything is possible with resiliency and determination. We can’t wait to have Devon back to spend time with us again!”
PayPal · Head NA Inside Sales
“Devon Harris captivated an audience of over 1000 people at our Users Conference in Nashville, TN. His humorous, energetic delivery, combined with an incredible story of perseverance and determination, left our attendees feeling motivated and inspired. It was a great way to close out our conference.”
PDI · Global Events Manager
“Perfect, would be the word used to describe the message you delivered as our Keynote Speaker. You delivered an inspiring message to a very sophisticated group from some of the largest employee benefit organizations in the U.S. Your story is timeless and applicable for anyone at every level of working toward success.”
Swiss Re Corporate Solutions · Senior Vice President, Head A&H Sales, North America
“Thank you for the wonderfully inspiring, informative and entertaining talk you gave to our Finance, Actuarial and Risk management teams at Arch Capital Group. You absolutely hit the nail on the head. It was obvious to all that you had done your homework on us and took the time to understand our team’s goals and priorities.”
Arch Capital Group · Chief Risk Officer
“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… Just about every attendee has a ‘Devon’ story – you managed to leave them begging for more.”
Barbara Blumnhof · Asst. Vice President, Citi Commercial Business Group
“Your presentation far exceeded our expectations. Your delivery style and clear message took hold of our audience and held their undivided attention. It was clear too, that you took the planning conference call very seriously and modified your message to touch all the salient points that I noted as being important for the conference.”
Jerry Henderson · Partner, BKD
“Devon’s story is one of adversity and meeting challenges head on. But he is also able to draw out key lessons on leadership and teamwork – including the power of humour, which he liberally sprinkles throughout his presentations… He is highly recommended as a speaker, and we will look to him again.”
MSI Global Alliance · CEO

Read more client testimonials, sorted by industry, or see the full client list.

For event planners and bureaus

Everything you need to say yes

International bureau partner: A-Speakers. Prefer to talk first? Book a short discovery call.

Questions planners ask

Who is Devon Harris?

Devon Harris is a motivational keynote speaker, author and three-time Winter Olympian. He was a founding member of the 1988 Jamaican bobsled team that inspired the film Cool Runnings, a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and a former officer in the Jamaica Defence Force.

What does Devon speak about?

Resilience, teamwork, leadership under pressure and leading people through change, built on his 3R System: Responsibility, Reframe, Reset. See his resilience keynote and all speaking topics.

Does Devon customize each keynote?

Yes. Every engagement starts with a prep call and a pre-event survey so the story connects to your goals, your theme and your people.

Can Devon speak virtually?

Yes. Devon delivers in-person, virtual and hybrid keynotes, and also works as a Master of Ceremonies.

How do I check Devon's availability and fee?

Use the form below or email speaker@devonharris.com with your date, location and audience. Devon's team will come back to you with availability and fees.

Your audience will remember the crash. They'll use the comeback.

Tell us about your event and Devon's team will come back to you with availability and fees.

speaker@devonharris.com · 844-853-3766

Not ready yet? Request a discovery call or follow Devon on LinkedIn.

Check Devon's availability