Shannon Huffman Polson
Pilot. Speaker.Author. Artist.
One practice of paying attention.
Hi there, and thanks for visiting
Building leaders for a better world.
I’m a keynote speaker, an author, and founder and CEO of The Grit Institute with a passion for transforming people and organizations through inspired and practical presentations, training and writing. I believe in every person's ability and agency, and I believe developing courageous leaders for a better world will help to change our world.
Speaking, writing, and working with teams and people to reach their potential are a part of my DNA. From triathlons to high mountains, the military cockpit to the boardroom, I thrive on helping people and teams set audacious goals, connect to purpose, and achieve success beyond their wildest dreams!
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Speaking, writing and art.
Keynotes
World Class keynotes for exceptional results
Military and corporate veteran Shannon Huffman Polson brings stories, lessons learned and tactical takeaways from her own deep experience in leading teams through times of challenge and change in and out of the cockpit, as well as years of research into leadership, grit, and purpose.
“By far the highlight of our meeting. Everyone loved her. 100% NPS for Shannon’s training—world class!”
“Shannon was amazing! She did a great job summarizing the day and leaving our company energized to face the wind and fly through it! We couldn’t be happier.”
“A huge hit and very inspiring! As I type this, I am overhearing the clients talk about her and how they are planning to continue to pull her message through the rest of the meetings.”
“Shannon was AMAZING!!!!! Our team absolutely loved her and her message. Her story was spot on with our mission and our goals for the meeting. She was outstanding!”
“I loved everything about the presentation. Shannon has so much energy in her talk, and is a fantastic storyteller. I think everyone walked away feeling inspired and energized.”
Top rated by the world’s best organizations
Award winning from Harvard Business Review
The Grit Factor
Courage, Resilience, and Leadership in the Most Male-Dominated Organization in the World
With its gripping narrative and relatable takeaways, The Grit Factor is both inspiring and pragmatic, a book that will energize and enlighten current and aspiring leaders everywhere—whether male or female.
“The book will leave anybody nothing short of inspired by the heroics of Huffman Polson and her fellow military women. But the point is that everyone has the capacity to learn to face the impossible.”Financial Times business books
The only good use of any power a leader has is the responsibility to take care of her people.Shannon Huffman Polson
Newsletter
Facing the Wind
Shannon’s newsletter on Substack. New essays appear here as soon as they are published.
Read the latest essays at facingthewind.substack.com.
The Grit Institute
Lead Like Lives Depend On It.
One of the first women to fly the Apache helicopter, Shannon Huffman Polson is a keynote speaker on courage, resilience and purpose. She teaches leaders to thrive under pressure, build high performing teams in a culture of accountability, and lead with grit when it counts.
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