Keynotes

Five talks on courage, resilience and purpose

Each keynote draws on Shannon’s years flying the Apache and leading in the corporate world, and is shaped to your audience, whether executive teams, women in leadership, veterans or an all-company kickoff.

Signature keynote

The Grit Factor: Courage and Resilience in Times of Challenge and Change

Grit isn't grinding harder. It is a practice you build before you need it. Drawn from Shannon's book, published by Harvard Business Review Press.

The Grit Factor keynote gives your organization a framework and tactical takeaways to find their own grit factor, strengthening individuals and teams to get through the most challenging times and reach their greatest goals.

Your audience will leave able to

  • Use the Grit Triad (Commit, Learn, Launch) on a challenge they face this quarter
  • Tell grit from grind, and stop rewarding the burnout that looks like commitment
  • Keep a team steady through change by naming what isn’t changing
  • Turn a setback into the raw material of leadership
About this keynote
100% NPS“By far the highlight of our meeting. Everyone loved her.” Intuit
Repeat clientsIBM, Microsoft, Bristol Myers Squibb, The Channel Company and In-N-Out Burger have brought Shannon back, some three times.
90% top two boxThe highest score for all sessions over a two-day event. Fortune 100 Company
Two standing ovations“Rave reviews! TWO standing ovations!” HERC Rentals

More keynotes

02

The Grit Mindset

Most high achievers were taught that grit means pushing harder, sleeping less and never slowing down. Real grit is steadier than that.

Come away with specific understanding and tactical steps to own a grit mindset, overcome obstacles and reach your biggest goals.

Your audience will leave able to

  • Explain why grinding harder fails, and what to do instead
  • Start small daily habits that build grit and resilience
  • Stay clear and decisive under pressure
  • Talk about mindset in one shared language across the team
About this keynote
03

Leading with Purpose

The North Star looks like one point of light. It is actually three. Purpose works the same way.

Leading with Purpose connects your people and your teams to their deepest why, increasing engagement, performance and connection.

Your audience will leave able to

  • Use the Polaris Principle to name their purpose and connect it to the organization’s
  • Reconnect a tired team to meaning
  • Check everyday decisions against purpose
  • Build trust that lasts beyond the event
About this keynote
04

Leadership Storytelling

People don't follow strategy decks. They follow stories they can see themselves in.

Leaders come away with specific examples, an understanding of the fundamentals of story, and how to use them to drastically amplify your impact.

Your audience will leave able to

  • Find a true story in their own experience that carries their message
  • Shape it with a simple structure so it lands
  • Use story to explain change and earn trust
  • Build credibility through honesty, not polish
About this keynote
05

The Best of Both Worlds: Veteran Hires in Corporate America

Veterans bring leadership under pressure, mission focus and teamwork. Companies that know how to use it win twice.

The Best of Both Worlds helps your organization increase veteran retention and engagement, strengthen teams and improve outcomes.

Your audience will leave able to

  • Name what veterans bring that hiring managers often miss
  • Spot where the military-to-corporate transition stalls, and fix it in onboarding
  • Recruit, onboard and keep veteran talent
  • Build a culture where veterans lead
About this keynote
Virtual & online

Interested in a virtual keynote, webinar or online training?

Send me a note!

Book a call with Shannon

Speaker reel

Watch Shannon on stage

From the frontlines to the boardroom, Shannon delivers keynotes that inspire leaders, ignite teams, and transform audiences worldwide.

Shannon Huffman Polson delivering a leadership keynoteShannon Huffman Polson delivering a leadership keynoteShannon Huffman Polson delivering a leadership keynoteShannon Huffman Polson delivering a leadership keynoteShannon Huffman Polson delivering a leadership keynoteShannon Huffman Polson delivering a leadership keynoteShannon Huffman Polson delivering a leadership keynoteShannon Huffman Polson delivering a leadership keynote

Top rated by the world’s best organizations

AmazonVerizonPwCBristol Myers SquibbU.S. ArmyU.S. Air Force AcademyYaleDuke UniversityASAEEllevateIn-N-Out BurgerCielo

In the cockpit and on the stage

From the frontlines to the boardroom

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.

Shannon Huffman Polson: with her Apache company in front of an AH-64 Apache helicopter, 2000
With her Apache company in front of an AH-64 Apache helicopter, 2000
Shannon Huffman Polson: with a group of women leaders
With a group of women leaders
Shannon Huffman Polson: proExpo 2026, San Diego
ProExpo 2026, San Diego
Shannon Huffman Polson: a promotion ceremony in front of an Apache helicopter
A promotion ceremony in front of an Apache helicopter
Shannon Huffman Polson: on the field at a Seattle Seahawks game
On the field at a Seattle Seahawks game
Shannon Huffman Polson: u.S. Army flight school graduation, 1994
U.S. Army flight school graduation, 1994
Shannon Huffman Polson: keynote speaker, WHAAS 2021
Keynote speaker, WHAAS 2021
Shannon Huffman Polson: with her company and Korean counterparts
With her company and Korean counterparts
Shannon Huffman Polson: a virtual keynote
A virtual keynote
Shannon Huffman Polson: an award ceremony
An award ceremony
Shannon Huffman Polson: with her Apache company on the flight line
With her Apache company on the flight line
Shannon Huffman Polson: signing The Grit Factor for a veteran at a corporate speaking event
Signing The Grit Factor for a veteran at a corporate speaking event

Testimonials

Testimonials for Shannon Huffman Polson’s recent keynotes and appearances

“By far the highlight of our meeting. Everyone loved her. 100% NPS for Shannon’s training—world class!”
Amber ZableSenior Marketing Manager, Intuit
“Shannon Polson scored 90% top two box! That is the highest score for all of our sessions over the two-day period. There were glowing verbatims as well.”
Fortune 100 Company
“Rave reviews! TWO standing ovations!”
HERC Rentals
“The presentation was captivating and delivered everything that we could have wanted. A lot of buzz has been created around the presentation… She hit on all the topics we discussed in our initial discussion, leadership, adversity, innovation, change, living up to high standards, doing your best work under pressure, etc. It was perfect.”
Steve WebberNorthwestern Mutual
“Shannon COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BETTER. Obviously, her story and insights were great, but, on top of that, she was personable and connected with so many of the attendees.”
Cardinal HealthWomen in Pharmacy
“It was such a joy having you at Workday Rising for PwC’s inaugural VIP Women’s Breakfast. People are still talking about the networking, connections, and lasting relationships that came from the vulnerability and power you brought to your keynote.”
Michelle DreyPwC VIP Women’s Breakfast
“The presentation has already had an impact company wide in terms of getting people aligned with vernacular and mindset.”
Steven HollinsCRO, Netwrix
“Shannon provided the ‘wow factor’ that we strive to deliver to our members.”
William J. MellinPresident/CEO, New York Credit Union Association
“Shannon was an absolute star, helping my team through the most challenging time in our business. Ten out of ten is not high enough marks.”
Simon LeslieCEO, Ink
“There are similarities in business to learn from her experience, to launch your team to drive to mission critical outcomes. Very inspiring!”
Dianne Del RossoVP, Turbonomic/IBM
“Your work provided a superb framework for our development of leaders of characters in the profession of arms.”
Brigadier General Linell LetendreUnited States Air Force Academy
“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.”
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals
“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.”
Ball Ventures
“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!”
Nestlé Health Science
“Shannon is an outstanding presenter who inspires the audience to reach deep inside themselves to find the place where their passion meets their purpose.”
NRCS
“Shannon’s insight on leading from any seat was extremely powerful and insightful! Shannon was an absolute joy to work with from start to finish and I would highly recommend her for any organization looking to inspire and reenergize its team!”
The Geneva Foundation
“Her passion and knowledge provided an undercurrent that left a deep impression on the audience. Shannon is skilled in constructing a narrative in a way that the structure disappears, revealing truths through reverie and shared experience.”
Mountaineers Books
“Shannon has an amazing way with words - so much so that when I noticed she had left her remarks at the podium, I stormed the stage after her remarks to grab the notes, so that I could read and reread them. She’s a pro and our team really enjoyed working with her.”
Ben KlaskyCEO, Islandwood
“Shannon’s personal story of courage is both compelling and poignant. Her personal experiences are fascinating and creates the urgency to have each and every one of us explore our stories, values, and goals. Shannon’s “call to action” leaves an indelible mark.”
New York Life
“I loved everything about the presentation. Shannon has so much energy in her talk, and is a fantastic storyteller. As someone who has very little exposure to the military, I was still able to visualize and empathize with everything Shannon spoke about. She has a very contagious optimism and presence, and I think everyone walked away feeling inspired and energized.”
T-Mobile
The only good use of any power a leader has is the responsibility to take care of her people.Shannon Huffman Polson

Formats

However your event is built, Shannon fits.

Keynote

A signature 45–60 minute talk, tailored to your theme and audience.

Workshop

Half- or full-day interactive sessions that turn ideas into practice.

Virtual Keynote

Broadcast-quality remote talks for distributed teams and global events.

Fireside & Panel

Moderated conversations, Q&A, and panels that go deep, fast.

For conference and media planners

Planner resources

Downloads

Read from the stage

“Our next speaker was one of the first women to fly the Apache helicopter. She’s the author of The Grit Factor, and she’s here to show us what it really takes to lead when it counts. Please welcome Shannon Huffman Polson.”

Headshots and book cover

Planner FAQ

Everything you need to book with confidence.

What kind of speaker is Shannon Huffman Polson?

Shannon is a top-rated leadership speaker, women’s leadership speaker, and inspirational and motivational keynote speaker. A woman veteran speaker and one of the first women to fly the Apache helicopter in the U.S. Army, she brings lessons from the cockpit and the boardroom to corporate meetings, women’s leadership conferences, Veterans Day programs and all-company kickoffs.

What topics does Shannon speak on?

Shannon speaks on grit and resilience, courageous leadership, leading and deciding under pressure, and women’s leadership. Her signature keynote is The Grit Factor: Courage and Resilience in Times of Challenge and Change. Every talk is tailored to your audience, theme, and the outcomes you’re after.

Does Shannon speak at Veterans Day events?

Yes. Shannon is a U.S. Army veteran and one of the first women to fly the Apache helicopter. Her keynote The Best of Both Worlds: Veteran Hires in Corporate America is built for Veterans Day programs, veteran ERGs, and HR and talent leaders. It helps your organization increase veteran retention and engagement, strengthen teams and improve outcomes.

Does Shannon deliver virtual keynotes?

Yes. Shannon delivers broadcast-quality virtual keynotes and fireside chats for distributed teams and global events, in addition to in-person engagements.

Can a keynote be customized for our organization?

Always. Every talk is shaped around your theme, your audience, and the outcomes you’re after. Shannon works with your team in advance so the message lands.

Does Shannon offer workshops as well as keynotes?

Yes. Half- and full-day workshops, fireside chats, and panels are available alongside her signature keynotes.

Where does Shannon travel from?

Shannon travels from Washington State and speaks to audiences across the country and around the world.

How do we check availability and fees?

Book a call with Shannon or email shannon@polsons.com. Share your date, audience, and goals, and you’ll get a fast, personal response.

Media Appearances

Podcasts

Next steps

Bring Shannon to your stage.

Interested in a virtual keynote, webinar or online training? Send me a note! I accept a small number of executive coaching clients each quarter. Please email if you would like to connect.

Email shannon@polsons.com, or call 509-996-8011

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.

Visit The Grit Institute