Opening & Closing Keynote Speaker
The Speaker Who Changes the Room
Devon Harris — 3x Olympian, founding member of Jamaica’s bobsled team, and the true story behind Disney’s Cool Runnings — delivers keynotes that audiences remember for years.
Whether you need an opening keynote speaker to ignite day one or a closing keynote speaker who sends your audience home inspired — Devon Harris belongs at the top of your list.
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Devon Harris
Opening & Closing Keynote Speaker · 3x Olympian
The Right Speaker Changes Everything
Opening and Closing Keynote Speaker
The right opening keynote speaker sets the tone for your entire conference. The right closing keynote speaker sends your audience home energized and inspired. Devon Harris does both — with a story so extraordinary that it has captivated audiences of 500 to 10,000+ people on stages across 40+ countries.
A three-time Olympian and founding member of the original Jamaican bobsled team, Devon’s journey from the streets of Kingston to the Olympic podium — immortalized in the Disney blockbuster Cool Runnings — is the kind of story that makes a conference unforgettable.
“Devon mixes fascinating stories of his rise from humble origins to Olympic athlete with specific instructions on how to achieve your goals. He truly inspired our audience to push higher and stronger.”
— Fortune 500 Conference Organizer
The Highest-Stakes Slot on Your Agenda
What Makes a Great Opening Keynote Speaker?
The opening keynote carries more weight than any other session on your agenda. The energy established in the first 60 minutes sets the emotional temperature for everything that follows. A weak opener creates a problem that compounds — disengaged attendees, flat conversations, and lower scores across every subsequent session.
Devon’s team works with you on pre-event calls to tailor the keynote to your specific industry and audience.
End on the Highest Note
What a Closing Keynote Speaker Does Differently
Where the opening keynote ignites, the closing keynote speaker crystallizes. The closing slot requires a fundamentally different skill set — and it is one of the most underrated decisions a meeting planner can make.
By the time your audience reaches the closing keynote, they have absorbed two or three days of sessions, breakouts, and conversations. They are simultaneously inspired and exhausted. The closing speaker’s job is to take everything experienced, tie it together emotionally, and send them home with clarity, energy, and a commitment to act.
The best closing keynote speakers do not recap the conference. They reframe it — helping attendees connect the dots between individual sessions and a larger, more meaningful story about their own leadership and life.
Devon Harris is one of the most effective closing keynote speakers for one reason: his story is a closing message. After three days of learning, an audience that hears how Devon refused to quit — finishing the race after his sled crashed at Calgary — leaves with something they carry for years.
“Devon captivated an audience of over 1,000 people at our Users Conference in Nashville. His humorous, energetic delivery, combined with an incredible story of perseverance, left our attendees feeling motivated and inspired. It was a great way to close out our conference.”
— PDI · Nashville, TN · Audience of 1,000+
What Sets the Closing Slot Apart
A great closer weaves fragmented learnings from 2–3 days into one cohesive narrative that gives the conference retroactive meaning.
By the last session, attendees are emotionally open. The closing speaker’s job is to land a message so powerfully that it sticks long after the event.
The best closing keynotes don’t end the conference — they launch attendees into what comes next, transforming inspiration into real action.
When the closing speaker lands, attendees leave thinking ‘that was worth every minute.’ That drives re-attendance and positive word-of-mouth.
Make the Right Choice for Your Event
Opening vs. Closing Keynote Speaker: Which Do You Need?
Many event planners ask whether Devon is better as an opener or a closer. He is exceptional in both roles — but the choice depends on your conference goals.
| Opening Keynote | Closing Keynote | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary goal | Set energy and theme for the entire event | Synthesize learnings and inspire action |
| Audience state | Fresh, expectant, slightly distracted | Tired but emotionally open and receptive |
| Speaker energy | High-energy, fast-paced, immediate hook | Warm, reflective, emotionally resonant |
| Content focus | Framework and vocabulary for the days ahead | Connect all dots, deliver clear call to action |
| Best for | Multi-day conferences, kickoffs, summits | Conference finales, award dinners, annual meetings |
Not sure which fits your event? Contact Devon's team for a free 30-minute consultation.
Experience · Credibility · Impact
Why Devon Harris as Your Conference Keynote Speaker
The Story Behind the Speaker
Devon Harris grew up in one of the most challenging communities in Kingston, Jamaica. Through sheer determination, he earned a place at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Then, with almost no winter sports experience, he co-founded the Jamaican bobsled team and competed at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics — so improbable it inspired Disney’s Cool Runnings.
The Keynote Experience
Devon went on to compete at the 1992 and 1998 Olympics, becoming a three-time Olympian and one of sport’s greatest underdog stories. He transforms his Olympic journey into specific, actionable frameworks your audience can apply immediately.
Devon’s Credentials
What Event Planners Say
Every Industry. Every Audience.
Industries Devon Serves as Opening & Closing Keynote Speaker
Devon’s message of resilience, goal setting, and defying the odds resonates across every industry and audience type. He customizes every keynote to your specific sector, audience, and conference theme.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Planning a conference is complex. Here are the questions event planners most commonly ask about booking Devon as an opening or closing keynote speaker.
Don’t see your question here? Devon’s team responds within one business day.
Contact Devon’s Team →Book Devon Harris
Give Your Conference the Opening or Closing It Deserves
Devon Harris is available for keynote engagements worldwide. His team works closely with every event organizer to ensure the keynote is tailored to your specific audience, industry, and conference theme.
📞 844-853-3766 · speaker@devonharris.com · Responds within 1 business day