Andre Norman

From Hardened Felon to Harvard Fellow

Hard Hitting Speaker teaches you how to unlock you potential and unlock your business

About Andre Norman

Andre’s Story

Known to many as “The Ambassador Of Hope,” Andre’s experience and expertise is what empowers him to help people turn their situation around. Andre travels around the world to serve as a mentor and listening ear for so many in need.

He has made an impact working in the countries of Bahamas, Guatemala, Honduras, Liberia, Sweden, and Trinidad. Inclusion has been at the core of his solution-based efforts.

 
From Prisoner to Professor

From illiteracy to gang activity, Andre’s childhood prepared him for nothing less than a life of crime and violence. This behavior eventually led Andre to be sentenced to over 100 years in prison.

As a natural-born leader, he quickly rose to the top of the prison gang system where he managed gang activities from within the confines of a maximum security prison. During his two year stay in solitary confinement, Andre had an “epiphany” and he made the decision to turn his life around.

 
He had a simple dream to attend Harvard University and become successful

Over the next eight years, Andre worked twenty hours per day towards making this dream a reality. First, he taught himself how to read, then to understand the law and without hesitation, participated in anger management groups. After winning his appeal and having been armed with a GED and a dream, Andre walked out of prison in 1999, after serving fourteen years.

About Andre Norman

 

Known to many as “The Ambassador Of Hope”, Andre Norman’s experience and expertise is what empowers him to speak about and create training programs for families in crisis, substance abuse and teen drinking, re-entry, ex-offender, gangs, prison reform, and mentoring. Andre travels to schools, churches, and community centers around the world to serve as a mentor and friend to youth and community members alike.

From illiteracy to gang activity, Andre’s childhood prepared him for nothing less than a life of crime and violence. This behavior eventually led Andre to be sentenced to over 100 years in prison, with no sign of parole. A natural-born leader, he quickly rose to the top of the prison gang where he managed criminal and gang activities from within the confines of the correctional facility. His notoriety grew and Andre found himself in solitary confinement. There, a light turned on inside of Andre and he made the decision to turn his life around. He did just that and was paroled after serving a 15-year sentence. From that moment on, Andre has never looked back.

Having been exposed to both sides of the fence, Andre pulled from his life experiences and launched Project Footprints, an organization designed to connect individuals and corporations who want to make a difference with those who need a helping hand.

“Andre is one of the most impactful speakers I’ve ever seen. I’ve seen him speak live 3 times now – and each time I’m left speechless and standing to applaud. He once left an entire room of CEOs crying, his impact was so strong.”

-Cameron Herold, Founder COO Alliance & Author of Double Double

Andre in action

Podcast

Andre’s helps Hope Works

How to fix the American Prison System

Andre Norman at the Genius Network

Andre's Topics

Andre often presents this program to business audiences that want to help their community. Sponsors also engage Andre to present this program directly to at-risk youth programs. The story of Andre’s personal journey from prison to university lecturer and international speaker is not a Cinderella story. It is a tale of extremely hard work, numerous setbacks and an uphill struggle against tremendous odds. It is also a story that has inspired numerous audiences and encouraged people to think differently about what a determined individual can achieve.

Professor John Kotter of the Harvard Business School wrote that, “for leadership, achieving a vision requires motivating and inspiring—keeping people moving in the right direction . . . by appealing to basic but often untapped human needs, values, and emotions.” Andre had to abandon his old value system in order to take control of his life and, once released, stay out of prison. But he did find that some of what he learned in the world of prison gangs—about those untapped needs and emotions—has relevance for leaders in the world of legitimate business. Andre provides fresh perspectives on the leader’s role and a new appreciation for what is possible.

Andre's Topics

Andre often presents this program to business audiences that want to help their community. Sponsors also engage Andre to present this program directly to at-risk youth programs. The story of Andre’s personal journey from prison to university lecturer and international speaker is not a Cinderella story. It is a tale of extremely hard work, numerous setbacks and an uphill struggle against tremendous odds. It is also a story that has inspired numerous audiences and encouraged people to think differently about what a determined individual can achieve.

Professor John Kotter of the Harvard Business School wrote that, “for leadership, achieving a vision requires motivating and inspiring—keeping people moving in the right direction . . . by appealing to basic but often untapped human needs, values, and emotions.” Andre had to abandon his old value system in order to take control of his life and, once released, stay out of prison. But he did find that some of what he learned in the world of prison gangs—about those untapped needs and emotions—has relevance for leaders in the world of legitimate business. Andre provides fresh perspectives on the leader’s role and a new appreciation for what is possible.

Andre's Book