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. 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 decorated to Officier in de Orde van Oranje-Nassau in 2017, her company Nature’s Pride was ranked in the top three in the Hillenraad 100 since 2015 and was finalist as EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008.
Dragons’ Den
Shawn has been one of the investors on the Dutch Dragons’ Den since its start in 2020. She believes that the Netherlands does not support entrepreneurs enough in the startup phase. She thinks that young entrepreneurs should be triggered to take action when they have a brilliant idea. They should have more opportunities to go for their dreams. TV shows like Dragons’ Den are a great stimulant and bring awareness to the many opportunities.
