Society & Public Commentary
Men, Look in the Mirror: It Is Still a Man's World
A direct examination of male accountability in a culture that still tilts toward men — and what honest self-reflection demands of those who hold power.
Read on Medium
DR. SHAWNHARRIS
Sports Leadership & Organizational Transformation Executive
Scholar-Practitioner | Five-Book Author | Student-Athlete Expert | Speaker
DEVELOPING PEOPLE.
STRENGTHENING CULTURE.
ALIGNING SYSTEMS.
TURNING STRATEGY INTO MEASURABLE PERFORMANCE.
Scholar Practitioner. Leadership Strategist. Organizational Builder.
National Speaker. Five-Book Author. United States Marine Corps Veteran.
Dr. Shawn Harris is a Sports Leadership and Organizational Transformation Executive whose work spans military service, corporate leadership, collegiate athletics, higher education, research, entrepreneurship, organizational development, writing, teaching, speaking, and community leadership.
His work sits at the intersection of leadership, culture, human capital, higher education, athletics, workforce development, and organizational performance. He does not approach leadership exclusively as theory or motivation. He approaches it as a human and organizational system.
47
Championships in Four Years
8
National Championships
0.98 → 3.0
Student-Athlete GPA
220%+
Athletics Enrollment Growth
5
Books on Audible
Ph.D.
Student-Athlete Research
SEICon
Speaker
FROM GRASSROOTS TO THE GLOBAL STAGE.
WHO IS DEVELOPING THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE GAME?
Dr. Harris is a Las Vegas-based sports leadership executive whose perspective spans the entire human infrastructure of the sports ecosystem — from youth development to professional organizations.
GRASSROOTS
COLLEGIATE
PROFESSIONAL
→
→
→
WHERE SCHOLARSHIP MEETS CHAMPIONSHIP EXECUTION.
Explore Sports LeadershipStudent-Athlete Expertise
Dr. Shawn Harris combines doctoral research on academic and athletic demands with practical experience as Westcliff University's founding Dean of Athletics. His expertise centers on the student-athlete experience and the institutional support that helps students pursue academic and athletic success.
How Collegiate Student-Athletes Navigate Athletic and Academic Demands: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study
Published under William Leeshawn Harris
Concordia University Chicago·2025
View Dissertation on ProQuestFull text availability depends on ProQuest access.
167
Individuals Recognized for Academic Achievement
Cumulative Scholar Athlete / All-Academic recognition reported in 2025.
3.03
Department Cumulative GPA
Reported in 2025.
5
NAIA Scholar Teams
Recognized for the 2023–2024 academic year.
THE DR. SHAWN HARRIS BODY OF WORK
Five Books. One Evolving Examination of Leadership, Achievement, Responsibility, and Human Potential.
His books are not separate from his executive experience. They are an extension of it.
Driven Over Given
A foundational examination of what separates those who achieve from those who settle, and the internal decision that makes the difference.
The Five Pillars of the Unbreakable Leader
The leadership framework that connects personal development with organizational performance and sustained excellence.
If What God Placed on Me Makes You Uncomfortable
A bold examination of purpose, calling, and the responsibility that comes with operating at your highest level.
The Invoice of Greatness
An unflinching look at the real cost of excellence and why accountability, sacrifice, and ownership are non-negotiable.
PEOPLE. CULTURE. SYSTEMS. EXECUTION.
Work With Dr. HarrisStrategy alone does not transform organizations. Transformation occurs when people understand the mission, leaders model the expectations, culture reinforces the behaviors, systems support execution, and accountability connects intention to measurable outcomes.
Executive Leadership
Leadership Development
Organizational Culture
Human Capital Development
Organizational Change
Strategic Alignment
Workforce Development
Organizational Performance
THE U.N.B.R.E.A.K.A.B.L.E. LEADERSHIP MODEL
DEVELOPING THE INDIVIDUAL. ALIGNING THE ORGANIZATION.
Dr. Harris's proprietary leadership-development framework connects personal leadership development with organizational alignment and performance. The model addresses the gap between individual growth and institutional execution, ensuring that leadership development produces measurable organizational outcomes, not just personal insight.
Designed for executives, athletic administrators, coaches, organizational leaders, and institutions committed to building cultures of sustained performance.
Work With Dr. HarrisTHE PLUG
CONNECTING PEOPLE. CREATING ACCESS. BUILDING OPPORTUNITY.
BEING THE PLUG IS NOT ABOUT KNOWING EVERYBODY. IT IS ABOUT KNOWING WHAT NEEDS TO BE CONNECTED.
Athletes→Education
Student-Athletes→Opportunity
Young People→Pathways
Coaches→Leadership Development
Organizations→Talent
Research→Practice
Communities→The Sports Economy
Ideas→Execution
Impact & Innovation
Leadership that extends beyond the stage.
Driven Over Given Inc.
Access. Opportunity. Impact.
Expanding access to education, workforce readiness, opportunity, and essential resources to help individuals and communities achieve sustainable success.
Explore Driven Over Given
The Access Exchange
Where Leaders Exchange Influence.
A Driven Over Given Inc. platform connecting leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, and emerging voices to people, relationships, audiences, and opportunities.
Explore The Access ExchangeShawn360AI
AI Driven. Human Focused.
Advancing human-centered, agentic AI and institutional intelligence designed to help organizations connect information, improve decision making, and strengthen organizational performance.
Explore Shawn360AILatest Insights
Leadership. Sports. Culture. Innovation.
Ideas that challenge the comfortable.
AI & Innovation
Are We Afraid of AI or of Losing the Wheel?
The real anxiety around artificial intelligence isn't about the technology — it's about control, relevance, and what it means to lead when the machine can outperform the manager.
Read on MediumLeadership & Culture
A Rookie's Tilted Cap. A Leadership Lesson for All of Us.
One small act of nonconformity on a baseball field became a national conversation about identity, belonging, and what organizations actually mean when they say they value people.
Read on MediumLeadership documented across business, higher education, collegiate athletics, community impact, and professional media.
Orange County Business Journal
August 22, 2021
Identified Dr. Shawn Harris as Associate Dean of Athletics overseeing 23 sports teams at Westcliff University.
Business Wire
2023
Distributed press coverage documenting championship achievements, Nike partnership, and community leadership under Dean of Athletics Dr. Shawn Harris.
Concordia University Irvine
June 15, 2021
Masters In Coaching podcast featuring Dr. Shawn Harris on career journey, USMC transition, and student athlete leadership development.
Victory Sports Network
2020–2021
Covered Westcliff Athletics' NAIA admission and Dr. Shawn Harris's leadership during the COVID-19 suspension of competition.
Bayside Gazette
August 7, 2025
Documented Dr. Shawn Harris's Berlin community engagement, youth athletics, military service, and youth development work.
OC Today Dispatch
2024–2026
Covered the We Mentor M.E. Academy and Driven Over Given Community Takeover, identifying Dr. Shawn Harris as Founder and CEO.
Leadership is measured in results. Impact is remembered by people.
Professional Recommendation
"…an inspirational leader."
After approximately six years working alongside Dr. Harris through the Board of Intrusive Sports Agency, Abdi Sherif publicly recognized his ability to bring people together, listen actively, and identify team strengths — stating that Dr. Harris would be an asset to any team.
Abdi Sherif
Professional colleague / Board relationship, Intrusive Sports Agency
Institution
"…accomplished leadership."
Westcliff University's public institutional language attributed the athletics program's achievements — documented athletic success, academic development, culture, and organizational growth — to Dr. Harris's accomplished leadership.
Westcliff University
Institutional Recognition
Professional Influence
"…more than he'll probably ever know."
After sharing the stage with Dr. Harris at SEICon, Deshaun Harris publicly described that experience as the most meaningful part of the day — explaining that watching his father challenge conventional thinking in sports had shaped how he approaches his own career as a sports executive, entrepreneur, educator, and doctoral student.
Deshaun Harris
Sports executive, entrepreneur, educator, and doctoral student — SEICon
Community Gratitude
Dr. Darlene Jackson-Bowen publicly expressed gratitude after being recognized through Driven Over Given — thanking Dr. Harris in connection with her years of service to youth and young adults in Worcester County and the Berlin community. Her response reflected themes of responsibility, love, hope, community service, and youth opportunity.
Dr. Darlene Jackson-Bowen, Ph.D., PA
President & CEO, Building Mosaic Solutions, Inc.
Let's Have a Conversation.
Whether you're looking to book Dr. Harris for a keynote, engage Firm Grip Consulting Group, or explore a partnership — the conversation starts here.