Who We Are
Built on Purpose. Driven by People.
Driven Over Given Inc.™ is a 501(c)(3) certified nonprofit organization founded on the belief that where you start should never determine how far you can go.
Our Story
Driven Over Given Inc. was founded by Dr. Shawn Harris out of a deep conviction that talent exists everywhere — but access does not. Too many individuals and communities face barriers that have nothing to do with their potential and everything to do with their circumstances.
Dr. Harris built this organization to be the bridge — connecting people to the education, mentorship, workforce readiness, employment opportunities, and essential services they need to achieve sustainable success and lasting impact.
From its roots, Driven Over Given Inc. has grown into a multi-program organization with a presence in the Las Vegas area and an extended reach to Maryland's Lower Delmarva Peninsula — two distinct communities united by the same mission.
Our Founder
"Our responsibility is to build the bridge between the two."
Dr. Shawn Harris founded Driven Over Given Inc. with a singular purpose: to remove the barriers that prevent talented, capable people from reaching their full potential. His vision — that access, opportunity, and impact are not privileges but rights — is the foundation of everything the organization does.
Dr. Shawn Harris
Founder & CEO, Driven Over Given Inc.™
Where We Serve
Serving Las Vegas. Extending Opportunity to Maryland's Lower Delmarva Peninsula.
Serving the Las Vegas area, with a reach that extends to Maryland's Lower Delmarva Peninsula, Driven Over Given Inc.™ connects individuals and communities to education, workforce readiness, employment opportunities, and essential services.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Our primary base of operations, where we run community programs, youth development initiatives, and workforce readiness services for individuals and families in the greater Las Vegas area.
Lower Delmarva Peninsula, Maryland
An extended area of reach where Driven Over Given Inc.™ connects community members to resources, mentorship, and opportunity — building pathways in a region where access gaps remain significant.
Our programs and services vary by region. Not every program is available in both locations. Contact us to learn what is available in your area.
What Drives Us
Access
We believe every person deserves access to the tools, resources, and opportunities that make success possible.
Opportunity
We create and expand pathways — to education, employment, mentorship, and community — for those who need them most.
Impact
We measure our success by the real, lasting change we create in the lives of individuals and the strength of communities.
Integrity
We operate with transparency, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to the people and communities we serve.
Our Founder
Dr. William Leeshawn “Shawn” Harris
Founder & CEO, Driven Over Given Inc.™
Dr. William Leeshawn "Shawn" Harris
Founder & CEO, Driven Over Given Inc.™ | CEO, Firm Grip Consulting Group LLC
Scholarly Practitioner. Leadership Strategist. Community Builder.
Dr. William Leeshawn 'Shawn' Harris is a scholarly practitioner, leadership strategist, and educator who connects research with the practical work of building organizations and developing people. His career spans military service, corporate leadership, collegiate athletics, and community development, with a consistent focus on strengthening organizational culture and turning access into sustainable opportunity.
A native of Berlin, Maryland, and a 1992 graduate of Stephen Decatur High School, Dr. Harris served in the United States Marine Corps with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. He received multiple military medals and recognitions and was meritoriously promoted to Corporal (E-4). He later held leadership roles with Walmart and Target, expanding his experience in operations, accountability, and team development.
At Westcliff University, Dr. Harris built an athletics program from scratch. Under his leadership, the program earned 47 championships in four years, including eight national championships. He describes this chapter as his 'warrior years,' an experience explored in The Invoice of Greatness through the discipline, sacrifice, and responsibility behind achievement.
Dr. Harris earned his Ph.D. from Concordia University Chicago, where his research examined how collegiate student-athletes navigate athletic and academic demands. That work connects directly to his athletics leadership and informs his approach as a university professor. As CEO of Firm Grip Consulting Group LLC, he applies scholarship and professional experience to leadership development, organizational culture, and strategic execution.
An entrepreneur and author of five books, Dr. Harris explores leadership, resilience, purpose, and personal growth through works including Driven Over Given, The Five Pillars of the Unbreakable Leader, and The Invoice of Greatness. His writing examines both the demands of achievement and the responsibility leaders carry for the people they influence.
His love for community drives his work as Founder and CEO of Driven Over Given Inc. Serving Southern Nevada and the Lower Delmarva Peninsula, the nonprofit exists to remove barriers and expand access to education, workforce readiness, employment, and essential services. Through initiatives including siSTAR for girls and women and Young Kings for boys and young men, he is building avenues for mentorship, development, and connection to opportunity. Its guiding message is Access. Opportunity. Impact.
Dr. Harris is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and Prince Hall Masonry, where he holds the 32nd degree in the Scottish Rite. Married for thirty years and a father of three, he grounds his work in family, brotherhood, service, and accountability. Having built a championship athletics program, he now brings that same dedication to a broader community purpose: helping people gain the preparation, relationships, and resources to pursue opportunities of their own.
Ph.D. in Philosophy, Sports Leadership Specialization
Concordia University Chicago
Military Service
Served with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, earning multiple military medals and recognitions. Meritoriously promoted to Corporal (E-4) — a distinction earned through demonstrated leadership and performance.
Championship Athletics
Built Westcliff University's athletics program from the ground up, earning 47 championships in four years including eight national championships — a chapter he calls his 'warrior years.'
Author & Educator
Author of five books on leadership, resilience, and purpose — including Driven Over Given, The Five Pillars of the Unbreakable Leader, and The Invoice of Greatness — and a university professor applying research to real-world leadership.
Community Purpose
Having built a championship athletics program, Dr. Harris now brings that same dedication to a broader community purpose: helping people gain the preparation, relationships, and resources to pursue opportunities of their own.
Our President
Deandrea “Neki” Harris
President, Driven Over Given Inc.™
Deandrea "Neki" Harris
President, Driven Over Given Inc.™
Business Experience. Academic Achievement. Community Purpose.
Deandrea 'Neki' Harris brings 25 years of Walmart experience to her role as President of Driven Over Given Inc. Her professional background spans store operations, corporate safety, asset protection, and loss prevention, including service as a store manager.
A two-time graduate of Grand Canyon University, Neki earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing & Advertising, graduating magna cum laude, and a Master of Science in Leadership. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership at Concordia University Chicago.
Neki's business savvy is grounded in the combination of practical management experience and academic preparation in marketing and leadership. Her background connects the operational side of an organization — its people, processes, and resources — with the importance of communicating its purpose and establishing clear direction.
As President of Driven Over Given Inc., Neki brings this professional and educational foundation to the organization's mission of removing barriers and expanding access to education, workforce readiness, employment, and essential services. She also leads siSTAR, connecting mentorship with opportunity for women and girls.
Bachelor of Science in Marketing & Advertising
Grand Canyon University
Magna Cum LaudeMaster of Science in Leadership
Grand Canyon University
Ph.D. Student in Organizational Leadership
Concordia University Chicago
Operations and Management
Neki's Walmart career includes store-management experience and work across operational functions. This background provides a practical perspective on coordinating daily responsibilities and understanding how different parts of an organization work together.
Marketing and Leadership
Her education in marketing, advertising, and leadership complements her professional experience — a foundation for understanding organizational purpose, communication, and the role of leadership in bringing people together.
Safety and Resource Protection
Her experience in safety, asset protection, and loss prevention adds a perspective on organizational risk, accountability, and protecting resources.
Community Leadership
Driven Over Given Inc. exists to remove barriers and expand access to education, workforce readiness, employment, and essential services — equipping individuals and communities to achieve sustainable success and lasting impact.