ABOUT

sharmain Harris

Sharmain Harris is living proof that your past does not disqualify your future—it refines the leader you are becoming.


Once written off as only a "felon" by society, Sharmain engineered one of the most powerful reinvention stories in modern leadership.


After incarceration, he made a deliberate decision to reconstruct his identity from the inside out. What followed was beyond inspirational. He earned multiple degrees, received national recognition, secured a Governor’s Pardon, and built a leadership career that now influences institutions, professionals, and communities across the country.


Today, Sharmain is a Top transformational speaker, an author, consultant, and entrepreneur. His work sits at the intersection of identity transformation, organizational change, and human potential. Whether advising government agencies, equipping professionals, or challenging audiences from the keynote stage, his message is clear:


Your story is not a liability. It is leverage.
Reconstruct it with intention—and rise accordingly.

TURN YOUR PRISON STORY INTO

PURPOSE, POWER, AND PROFIT

TURN YOUR PRISON STORY INTO

PURPOSE, POWER, AND PROFIT

ABOUT

Sharmain Harris

Sharmain Harris is living proof that your past doesn’t disqualify your purpose—it prepares you for it.


Once counted out by the system, Sharmain rebuilt his life from the ground up. After serving time, he returned home determined not just to change his own story, but to help others rewrite theirs. What followed is nothing short of transformational: multiple degrees, national recognition, a Governor’s Pardon, and a leadership career impacting families, returning citizens, and human service professionals across the country.


Today, Sharmain is a national speaker, fatherhood advocate, author, consultant, professor, and reentry strategist. His work sits at the intersection of transformation, equity, and impact. Whether he’s training government agencies, speaking to formerly incarcerated men, or teaching college students, his message is the same: your story is a seed—plant it with intention.


✔ Full Pardon Recipient

✔ Nationally Recognized

✔ Fatherhood & Reentry Authority

Experience & Expertise

With over a decade of professional leadership, training, and program development, Sharmain brings deep expertise to every room he steps into:


→   National Father Engagement Expert (trained thousands across state, county, and nonprofit agencies)

→   Consultant & Facilitator for federal, state, and local government programs

→   Criminal Justice Adjunct Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Parkside

→   Reentry & Family Services Specialist working with systems like WIC, Child Support, Workforce Development, and Corrections

→   Professional Speaker delivering keynote talks for conferences, prisons, schools, and community organizations 

→   Community Organizer & Strategic Planner for coalitions advancing justice reform, fatherhood leadership, and poverty solutions

His ability to connect, teach, and mobilize audiences comes from lived experience—paired with a strong academic background in Business Design & Innovation (MS) and Marketing & Management (BA).

Recognition & Impact

Sharmain’s work has earned local and national honors, including:

→  NAACP Positive Impact Award

→  20 Under 40 Award

→  Governor’s Pardon – State of Wisconsin

→  Multiple features as a keynote presenter and panelist for national conferences 

He’s been trusted by organizations such as:

→  National Child Support Enforcement Association


→  National WIC Association

 

→  Wisconsin Community Action Program


→  Departments of Human Services across multiple states


→  Workforce Development agencies


→  Prisons, jails, reentry programs, and community-based nonprofits nationwide


From Keynote Speeches and breakout sessions to high-level policy forums, Sharmain’s voice influences systems and shapes future leaders.

A Story That Saves Lives

Sharmain’s story is raw, honest, and rooted deeply in transformation. His journey from incarceration to influence gives him unmatched credibility with audiences who are tired of theory and ready for truth.


He speaks with the conviction of a survivor, the clarity of a teacher, and the compassion of a father determined to change the narrative for the next generation.

His mission:
Help people rise above the odds, reclaim their identity, and build a legacy that outlives their mistakes.

What Drives Him

More than titles, degrees, or accolades, Sharmain is a husband and father first. His passion for fatherhood engagement stems from his own experience of healing from a broken relationship with his father. Watching his mother and father battle for him in court made him dedicate his life to his 2 sons and bonus daughter. This is what sparked his desire to help men step into leadership within their families and communities.


Whether he’s teaching dads how to reconnect with their children, guiding practitioners on how to serve justice-involved fathers, or helping returning citizens build confidence, his work comes from a place of deep empathy and lived experience.

Connect with Sharmain

Sharmain is available for:

→  Keynote Speeches


→  Workshops & Trainings

 

→  Fatherhood & Reentry Consulting


→  Storytelling & Speaker Coaching


→  Strategic Planning Facilitation


📩 Email: info@sharmainharris.com

🌐 Website: www.sharmainharris.com

📍 Based in Wisconsin — serving nationwide