MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER & FORMER NFL ATHLETE
My story encourages and helps people and organizations to build resilience, overcome adversity, and unlock their full winning potential.
Impacted over 1 million people
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MY TOPICS AND DESCRIPTIONS FOR KEYNOTES
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MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
Hi, I'm Shawn Harper
Growing up with learning challenges and countless setbacks, I was told I’d never succeed. But through faith, discipline, and grit, I went from barely graduating high school to playing in the NFL and that journey reshaped everything I know about winning in life. Now, I use that same “Winning Edge” mindset to help people and organizations push past limits, build resilience, and win from the inside out. Event planners don’t bring me in just to inspire, they bring me in because I show audiences how to turn adversity into advantage and action.
For over two decades, I’ve worked with Fortune 500 companies, national conferences, and elite teams to unlock potential under pressure. My keynotes blend real-life experience with proven strategies so audiences leave ready to lead stronger, perform better, and create lasting impact.
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Most Popular Speeches
SPEAKER TOPICS & DESCRIPTIONS
Please note: all keynotes are customizable to meet your event needs.
THE WINNER'S MINDSET
Too many teams operate in defense mode: protecting what they have instead of pursuing what’s possible. Shawn knows what it means to play it safe… and how that mindset can cost you the game. From his early struggles with learning challenges to earning a spot in the NFL, Shawn learned that success starts with how you think. When you adopt a Winner’s Mindset, you stop reacting to life and start creating it. This session challenges leaders and teams to flip their mindset from survival to significance, embracing challenges as catalysts for growth.
Through high-energy storytelling and proven strategies, Shawn equips audiences to break free from fear, adapt under pressure, and turn obstacles into opportunities.
In this keynote, Shawn will:
Teach the difference between a fixed mindset and a winning mindset—and how to shift it.
Equip leaders to navigate change and uncertainty with confidence.
Show teams how to take ownership and deliver proactive solutions.
Share principles for replacing fear with innovation, clarity, and momentum.
Provide real-world tactics to help organizations move from defense to offense.
Who this topic is for:
Organizations and leaders navigating change, growth, or transition.
Formats:
Conferences, Corporate Retreats, Leadership Events, Sales Meetings, Team Workshops
CREATING A CULTURE OF CHAMPIONS
Great teams aren’t built overnight—they’re built through culture.
As a former NFL player, Shawn knows that a championship locker room is built on trust, accountability, and shared purpose. In today’s corporate landscape, those same principles separate thriving organizations from those just surviving. This session explores what it takes to create a workplace where people feel valued, connected, and committed to winning together. Shawn breaks down how to reduce burnout, boost morale, and build an environment where employees want to stay, grow, and succeed.
In this keynote, Shawn will:
Reveal the five elements of a championship culture that drive engagement and retention.
Provide strategies to reduce turnover and increase employee satisfaction.
Share communication habits that build trust and unity under pressure.
Help leaders foster belonging, shared vision, and team accountability.
Show how to turn everyday interactions into moments that reinforce culture.
Who this topic is for:
Organizations focused on employee engagement, retention, and culture transformation.
Formats:
Corporate Events, HR Conferences, Leadership Summits, Sales Kickoffs, Executive Retreats
THE WINNER'S EDGE FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE
Talent opens doors but mindset keeps them open. Shawn’s Winning Edge philosophy was forged in the NFL trenches and refined through years of business leadership. This session unpacks how small shifts in focus, discipline, and daily habits can create lasting momentum—even under pressure.
Through powerful storytelling and actionable insight, Shawn teaches how to turn setbacks into springboards, fatigue into fuel, and pressure into performance. This isn’t theory, it’s the real-world playbook he’s used to help organizations and individuals win at every level.
In this keynote, Shawn will:
Share strategies to perform consistently under pressure.
Teach how to transform setbacks into setups for growth.
Reveal practical tools for building resilience and motivation.
Help leaders and teams sustain momentum through mindset and execution.
Offer repeatable habits that drive long-term winning.
Who this topic is for:
Teams and organizations aiming to elevate performance, drive results, and sustain momentum.
Formats:
Corporate Keynotes, Sales Teams, Leadership Retreats, Conferences, Association Events
Elevate your event with a motivational speaker who empowers and transforms.
What people are saying about Shawn:
What made Shawn stand out was his ability to be both real and relatable. He shared personal experiences from both in and out of the NFL, offering insight into the challenges he faced and the mindset that helped him overcome them. His message of resilience, self-worth, and determination was not only timely but deeply moving. Many families and attendees approached us afterward to express how impactful his words were and how much they appreciated his presence at the event.
Mr. Harper brought not only deep expertise in Leadership, Culture and Engagement but also hold an exceptional ability to captivate and engage with the audience and connect with them! His methods and message were dynamic and thought-provoking, striking a great balance between informative content and interactive delivery. Attendees filled out a post- event survey and remarked on how energized and inspired they felt after his presentation. What truly set Shawn apart was his innate ability to make complex concepts accessible, relevant and actionable. I highly recommend Shawn as a guest speaker for any event or organization seeking a knowledgeable, engaging and impactful presenter.
If you are looking for a speaker that will inspire, motivate, challenge, empathize, encourage, engage and ignite, then look no further. Shawn Harper took us on a journey. From the first sentence, the audience was drawn into his natural storytelling style. We laughed, we paused to reflect, we learned, and at times the room went completely silent as we were on the edge of our seats - hanging on to every word. The wisdom he imparted was priceless. His message will resonate with all -from early childhood to the C-Suite. I appreciate the time he took to ask questions to get to know our organization and our audience. I highly recommend Shawn Harper for your next event. Fischer Homes will be glad to have him again in the future.
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to book Shawn
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