The Grit Factor:

Courage, Resilience, and Leadership in the Most Male-Dominated Organization in the World

Gripping narrative and relatable takeaways
Both inspiring and pragmatic
Energize and enlighten current and aspiring leaders everywhere

Customized bulk orders of the Grit Factor available: contact lindsey.dietrich@hbr.org. Other bulk orders for your customers and organization from PorchlightBooks and Bookshop.

“The book will leave anybody nothing short of inspired by the heroics of Huffman Polson and her fellow military women. But the point is that everyone has the capacity to learn to face the impossible.”

— Financial Times business books

**What Makes The Grit Factor a Game-Changer?**

Real Leadership, Real Lessons

Story-driven insights from trailblazing leaders who have thrived in the toughest environments.

Science-Backed Success Strategies

Proven principles of grit, resilience, and high performance based on cutting-edge research.

Actionable Leadership Tools

Tactical exercises designed to help you apply lessons immediately and build the mindset, skills, and resilience needed to lead at the highest level.

The Grit Factor Framework: How it’s Organized

Commit

Own your story, define your core purpose, and lay the foundation for lasting resilience. Leadership starts with knowing who you are and why you lead.

Learn

Shift from internal work to external impact. Master strategic leadership skills, active listening, and team-building to create an environment where grit and success thrive.

Launch

Step into bold, audacious leadership. Learn how to take calculated risks, lead with authenticity, and adapt with agility to navigate change and drive results.

From The Book

At age nineteen, Shannon Huffman Polson became the youngest woman ever to climb Denali, the highest mountain in North America. She went on to reach the summits of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Kilimanjaro and spent more than a decade traveling the world. Yet it was during her experience serving as one of the Army's first female attack helicopter pilots, and eventually leading an Apache flight platoon on deployment to Bosnia-Herzegovina, that she learned the lessons of leadership that forever changed her life.

Take a Look Inside

About The Author

Shannon Huffman Polson

Speaking, writing, and working with teams and people to reach their potential are a part of my DNA. From triathlons to high mountains, the military cockpit to the boardroom, I thrive on helping people and teams set audacious goals, connect to purpose, and achieve success beyond their wildest dreams!

Learn More About Shannon

“Captivating and delivered everything that we could have wanted. A lot of buzz has been created around the presentation… She hit on all the topics we discussed in our initial discussion, leadership, adversity, innovation, change, living up to high standards, doing your best work under pressure, etc. It was perfect!”
Steve Webber
Northwest Mutual
“Shannon was amazing! She did a great job summarizing the day and leaving our company energized to face the wind and fly through it! We couldn’t be happier.”
Ball Ventures
“A huge hit and very inspiring! As I type this, I am overhearing the clients talk about her and how they are planning to continue to pull her message through the rest of the meetings.”
Biohaven Pharmaceuticals
“Shannon was AMAZING!!!!! Our team absolutely loved her and her message. Her story was spot on with our mission and our goals for the meeting. She was outstanding!”
Nestle Health Science
"I loved everything about the presentation. Shannon has so much energy in her talk, and is a fantastic storyteller. I think everyone walked away feeling inspired and energized."
T-Mobile
"By far the highlight of our meeting. Everyone loved her. 100% NPS for Shannon's training - world class!"
“I want to tell you, one week in, you have transformed me. I had come to view myself through a lens of limitations. I felt defeated and a product of these problems. But, as I followed your lessons…My journey line became one of power and strength versus weakness and defeat.”
“The training was impactful and helped me clarify my purpose! I also really enjoyed the small group work and the discussion from Huffman-Polson.”

The Grit Factor:

Courage, Resilience, and Leadership in the Most Male-Dominated Organization in the World

Gripping narrative and relatable takeaways

Both inspiring and pragmatic

Energize and enlighten current and aspiring leaders everywhere

Customized bulk orders of the Grit Factor available: contact lindsey.dietrich@hbr.org. Other bulk orders for your customers and organization from PorchlightBooks and Bookshop.

“The book will leave anybody nothing short of inspired by the heroics of Huffman Polson and her fellow military women. But the point is that everyone has the capacity to learn to face the impossible.”

**What Makes The Grit Factor a Game-Changer?**

Real Leadership, Real Lessons

Story-driven insights from trailblazing leaders who have thrived in the toughest environments.

Science-Backed Success Strategies

Proven principles of grit, resilience, and high performance based on cutting-edge research.

Actionable Leadership Tools

Tactical exercises designed to help you apply lessons immediately and build the mindset, skills, and resilience needed to lead at the highest level.

The Grit Factor Framework: How it’s Organized

Commit

Own your story, define your core purpose, and lay the foundation for lasting resilience. Leadership starts with knowing who you are and why you lead.

Learn

Shift from internal work to external impact. Master strategic leadership skills, active listening, and team-building to create an environment where grit and success thrive.

Launch

Step into bold, audacious leadership. Learn how to take calculated risks, lead with authenticity, and adapt with agility to navigate change and drive results.

From The Book

About The Author

Shannon Huffman Polson

Speaking, writing, and working with teams and people to reach their potential are a part of my DNA. From triathlons to high mountains, the military cockpit to the boardroom, I thrive on helping people and teams set audacious goals, connect to purpose, and achieve success beyond their wildest dreams!

Steve Webber

“Shannon was amazing! She did a great job summarizing the day and leaving our company energized to face the wind and fly through it! We couldn’t be happier.”

“A huge hit and very inspiring! As I type this, I am overhearing the clients talk about her and how they are planning to continue to pull her message through the rest of the meetings.”

“Shannon was AMAZING!!!!! Our team absolutely loved her and her message. Her story was spot on with our mission and our goals for the meeting. She was outstanding!”

"I loved everything about the presentation. Shannon has so much energy in her talk, and is a fantastic storyteller. I think everyone walked away feeling inspired and energized."

"By far the highlight of our meeting. Everyone loved her. 100% NPS for Shannon's training - world class!"

“I want to tell you, one week in, you have transformed me. I had come to view myself through a lens of limitations. I felt defeated and a product of these problems. But, as I followed your lessons…My journey line became one of power and strength versus weakness and defeat.”

“The training was impactful and helped me clarify my purpose! I also really enjoyed the small group work and the discussion from Huffman-Polson.”