About

Cynthia Adams Harrison, Ed. D., LICSW, is a performance consultant specializing in enhancing performance in business and sport. She brings her unique experience of using performance metrics borrowed from sport performance and applies these powerful techniques and practices to business. Recently, she was responsible for launching The Center for Family and Privately Held Businesses at Silver Bridge Advisors, a wealth management firm. She served as Managing Director and was also Director of Talent Development and advisor to The Silver Bridge Institute, an educational platform for the firm. 

She was an associate consultant for Genus Resources, LLC for twelve years, specializing in enhancing business and team performance. She works extensively with business executives and their organizations both in non-family and family business enterprises to develop innovative business solutions, enhance collaboration, create effective organizational change and growth, increase motivation, self-confidence, team building and mental training techniques necessary for success. Dr. Adams Harrison also designs and implements succession transition, prepares family members for leadership positions in the family business and family office , assists with career planning and addresses the performance needs of key non-family senior executives.

Dr. Adams Harrison guides elite athletes as they transition into professional sports on sudden wealth dynamics, lifestyle management, injury and recovery and mental training techniques necessary to achieve and maintain success at the professional level. 

Dr. Adams Harrison is a popular national and international motivational speaker and workshop presenter. Highlights from her numerous speaking engagements include "The Special Challenge of a Family Business in Crisis" at the Turnaround Management Association Annual Conference; "Team Building Concepts in the Workplace"; "Team Building and Mental Training Skills for Enhanced Performance," "Women's Ways: Performance Tips for Success," and presented as Keynote Speaker "Five Keys to Success” at The Polyurethane Foam Association General Business Meeting." At the 9th Annual World Congress of Sport Psychology in Lisbon, Dr. Adams Harrison presented "International Applications of Relational Theory to Women in Sport." She has co-presented workshops on such topics as estate planning and effective corporate governance in family business, including a presentation in Dallas at the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) "Board Symposium on Successful Family Businesses."

She has authored numerous business articles and whitepapers. Her published work has been highlighted in Family Business Magazine and Teamwork Perspectives and Challenges, ICFAI University Press, India. In 2009 she coauthored, “Women in Family Business: What Keeps You Up at Night?” with Patricia M. Annino J.D., and Thomas D. Davidow Ed.D, She is currently working on a new book highlighting her “5 Keys For Success” and the psychology of achievement. It is based on her many years of experience as a sports psychologist and high performance coach for elite athletes such as Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, championship sports teams and many others. The book offers insights into the mindset of high performance athletes, and the critical 5 Keys that can help anyone in competitive sports, business or family enterprises reach one’s full potential. 

Dr. Adams Harrison has received numerous awards in her field. She has been recognized for her work with Olympic, professional and college athletes and coaches in national and international newspapers, magazines and television, most notably The New York Times, USA Today, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated, Time, U. S. News and has been interviewed for ESPN's-30 for 30 Documentary "The Price of Gold ," PBS, Good Morning America and Boston’s Chronicle. She is a member of many professional associations, including the National Association of Social Workers, the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology and the American Psychological Association. Dr. Adams Harrison received a B.S. from Arizona State University, and M.S.W. and Ed. D. degrees from Boston University, where she specialized in Sport Psychology and has been an adjunct faculty member.