Darren Harris

Paralympian, Psychologist and Adversity Alchemist

Speaker fees:

In-person: £1k-£3k
Virtual: £1k-£3k

Topics:

Leadership
2
Performance
2
Communication & Teamwork
2
Innovation & Technology

Darren Harris works with organisations that want to tackle challenges so they unleash rather than limit potential.

Darren Harris is a mindset speaker, coach and trainer who helps leaders and teams build the confidence and skills to turn adversity into advantage. Using his powerful Unblind Your Mind methodology, he shows audiences how to unlock their potential by shifting their perspective on challenge and change.

Diagnosed with cancer of the eyes at just one year old, Darren grew up in Wolverhampton – a city whose motto, “Out of darkness cometh light”, mirrors his personal journey. Losing his sight was a devastating blow, and he faced years of emotional and psychological struggle. But meeting a real-life ‘Daredevil’ at school sparked a life-changing belief: that with the right mindset, almost anything is possible.

Darren’s mission is to inspire others to overcome adversity and achieve their highest potential. His vision? A world where obstacles are seen not as barriers, but as opportunities for growth – personally and professionally.

He lives by values that have powered his journey:

Inspiration – the pure oxygen that breathes life into dreams.
Courage – the heat that pushes you beyond limitations.
Determination – the steady fuel that keeps the inner fire burning.

With a first-class degree in Mathematics, a Master’s in Psychology, and an Honorary Doctorate for Outstanding Public Service, Darren combines intellect and empathy in equal measure. His unique insights into the human mind, drawn from both science and personal experience, help audiences reframe their challenges and build resilience.

On the sports field, Darren has represented Great Britain in two Paralympic sports – judo and football – and is England’s most capped and decorated blind footballer, with 157 appearances and 10 World and European medals. His athletic journey taught him invaluable life lessons about loss, failure and rejection – lessons he now shares to empower others.

He is also the co-author of the Amazon #1 bestseller Transforming Your Life, further amplifying his message of perseverance, mindset, and hope.

Darren’s story is more than inspirational – it’s a practical blueprint for turning setbacks into comebacks. Whether he’s speaking to corporate leaders, educators or students, he leaves audiences feeling energised, empowered, and ready to take action.

Book Darren Harris

Featured topics include

In this inspiring talk, Darren draws on the different leadership roles others have adopted in guiding him from adversity to achievement. With humility, and honesty, he shows that leadership is not about title or tenure, but knowing a suite of behaviour change techniques. The session is about building resilient workplace cultures that not only survive but thrive amid change, challenge, and crisis.

Who will benefit from booking Darren Harris as a leadership speaker

This presentation can be tailored for diverse audiences, including:
  • Corporate Leaders and Teams: Seeking strategies to navigate organisational challenges.
  • Educators and Students: Aiming to develop a growth mindset.
  • Coaches and Athletes: Looking to enhance mental toughness.
  • Individuals Facing Personal Challenges: Desiring tools to build inner strength.

The key takeaways from this session for attendees are:

  • What makes an ideal role model.
  • How to identify barriers to performance, and plan ways of overcoming them.
  • How to set and achieve goals.
  • Why agree on a social contract.
  • How to make effective social comparisons.
  • Where to make marginal gains.

In this insightful session, Darren explores the true nature of communication—what we say, how we say it, and how others perceive it. Drawing on his unique perspective as an England blind footballer, he shares key lessons from playing the ultimate communication game. This session uses powerful models and tools to challenge assumptions, unlock new levels of understanding, and elevate your impact in every conversation.

Who will benefit from booking Darren Harris as a communication speaker

This presentation can be tailored for diverse audiences, including:
  • Leaders and managers looking to build stronger teams.
  • HR professionals who facilitate learning and development.
  • Hybrid Teams using a lend of in-person and online communication.
  • Anyone who wants to improve their influence and impact.

The key takeaways from this session for attendees are:

  • How the Moravian Model has been misinterpreted.
  • Ways to identify and manage 3 types of attention.
  • How perception filters affect what people hear and how to navigate them.
  • How to recognise and respond to different personality types.
  • How to use the Johari Window to enhance self-awareness and openness.
  • Practical active listening techniques for better connection and trust.
  • Powerful questioning methods to draw out insight and engagement.

In this informative talk, Darren shows how adversity can become the catalyst for innovative solutions to real world problems. Drawing on his experience as a former application developer, Darren charts how assistive technology has given people with disabilities access to new and fertile ground. This session is about empowering people through technology and AI.

Who will benefit from booking Darren Harris as an innovation speaker

This presentation can be tailored for diverse audiences, including:
  • Product Creators: Looking to leverage the power of the purple pound.
  • Service Providers: Aiming to reach under-represented groups.
  • Advocates for Inclusion: Looking to make products and services accessible.
  • Individuals Interested in Being Change Agents: Desiring tools to build bespoke solutions.

What the audience will Learn from booking Darren Harris as an innovation speaker

The key takeaways from this session for attendees are:
  • How to think outside the box and break free from conventional approaches.
  • How to develop user-centric ways of working.
  • How to set and achieve goals.
  • Why agree on a social contract.
  • How to make effective social comparisons.
  • Where to make marginal gains.

What people say

Darren spoke at our department event, completely changing the dynamics of the group inspiring them to share their personal stories openly with each other.

Glenn Watts, Business Development Manager, Wolverhampton City Council

Darren is not only a great motivational speaker but also a lovely person. His presentation was truly inspirational and it was definitely a highlight of the day. He proves the only person limiting you is you and his persistence and passion for helping people is exquisite.

Daria Dobrzyniecka, Graduate Recruiter @ HSBC

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