Shawn is a passionate person and always driven and very involved. Her clear approach to success allows entrepreneurs to see the bigger picture and to make the right decisions to reach the top. Nothing escapes her sharp-eyed vision at Orange Wings Investments. She knows that on the road to success, sometimes the biggest opportunities are hidden in the smallest details.
Nature’s Pride
Raised in Wisconsin and studied at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Shawn moved to Holland in 1989 to become a self-made entrepreneur. In 1990 she started her first fruit and vegetable business in Leeuwarden. She spent a few tough years learning and understanding how the produce business functioned. In 1994 she moved closer to the Rotterdam Fruit Harbor where she had an office and warehousing in Schiedam. She also took jobs with two relevant produce companies from 1998 to 2000. After learning hard lessons for ten years, Shawn founded Nature’s Pride in 2001. She was CEO of this import company which distributed hundreds of sorts of unique fruits, vegetables and berries from the start until September 2017. She focused on improving the taste of avocados and mangos by letting the fruits hang on the tree longer for optimal maturity. Nature’s Pride eventually developed the ripening process that is still being improved today. This way the consumer can buy and eat ripe avocados and mangos every day.
Awards
Shawn Harris was appointed as an Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau in 2017. Before, she led Nature's Pride, a company that consistently held a top-three ranking in the Hillenraad 100 since 2015 and was a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2008.
In 2023, she received the fCN Gassan Jewel Award, recognizing her contributions to Orange Wings Investments and other endeavors.
Dragons’ Den
Shawn was a Dragon on the Dutch Dragons’ Den for three seasons, starting in 2020. Her involvement in the tv show reflects her believe that the Netherlands should provide more support to entrepreneurs in the startup phase. According to Shawn, young entrepreneurs with brilliant ideas should be encouraged to take action, with increased opportunities to persue their dreams. TV shows like Dragons' Den serve as a valueble catalysts, raising awareness about numerous entrepreneurial opportunities.
