As the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) of Career Certified, Dan Harris has been a driving force behind the company’s rapid growth and success since joining The CE Shop team in 2016. Rising to the position of President in 2021, Harris has led the company to numerous awards and accolades, including the prestigious RISMedia’s Newsmaker Award. Under his leadership, Career Certified expanded from serving the real estate sector to offering innovative solutions across multiple professional industries.

Dan’s commitment to growth through B2B-driven programs has transformed Career Certified’s operations, with strategic initiatives like white-labeled solutions, affiliate networks, and marketing platforms boosting both revenue and customer loyalty. His vision extended beyond business metrics, championing The CE Shop Foundation, which has supported Food For Thought Denver, which provides backpacks filled with food to school children in the Denver area, aligning his personal values with the company’s philanthropic mission.

In his free time, Dan is an outdoor enthusiast, often found hiking and cycling in the scenic landscapes of his home state, Colorado.

Industry Impact and Leadership Vision

Dan joined The CE Shop when it was primarily focused on Continuing Education for the real estate market, serving over 6 million real estate transactions annually. Recognizing its potential, Dan played a pivotal role in the company’s expansion into Pre-Licensing and spearheading the development of new B2B go-to-market strategies. His leadership has driven innovation, allowing Career Certified to diversify its offerings and expand into new professions, making a significant impact on the professional certification and education industry.

From Launch to Legacy 

Dan explains that Career Certified is driven by a mission to make purpose attainable for its customers, partners, and the communities they serve. By offering flexible and online learning solutions, Career Certified helps individuals launch, maintain, and accelerate their careers through Pre- and Post-Licensing programs, Exam Preparation, Continuing Education, and Professional Development. 

The company also extends its support to partners by helping them educate their staff and students through its business-to-business services. Operating under a family of brands, Career Certified serves a variety of industries, including real estate, mortgage loan origination, property appraisal, home inspection, insurance, securities, and architecture, making a meaningful impact on both personal career growth and community success. 

Leading with Authenticity 

When Dan joined Career Certified, he found the company’s core values to be closely aligned with his personal beliefs. He emphasizes authenticity and a strong focus on customer service, advocating for open and candid communication, always assuming positive intent, and working towards results that support customers while driving business growth. These core values are: 

• Customer Focused – Keeping the customer at the center of all decisions and finding solutions to support them.
• Do What We Say – Being impeccable with words and following through on commitments.
• Respect Others – Hiring great leaders and trusting them to lead effectively.
• Commitment to Improving – Encouraging a culture of learning, innovation, and iteration, with a mindset of “failing forward.”
• Have Fun – Celebrating successes and enjoying the process of growth.
• Give Back – Contributing to the communities that support the business. 

Dan highlights the importance of caring for people and communities by putting yourself in the shoes of those seeking better opportunities. Whether it’s a single mother in need of flexibility, a military family adjusting to civilian life, or someone seeking a new career path, Career Certified is dedicated to guiding individuals through every step of their career journey. Dan stresses the importance of staying focused on customer outcomes and results, using technology as a tool to enhance the experience while ensuring the core needs and goals of customers are met effectively. 

Building Trust in the AI Era 

Early in Dan’s career at Career Certified, he made it a priority to meet with real estate professionals, listen to their challenges, and understand what daily activities were hindering their efficiency. He was determined to find better solutions not only for customers but also for partners who were facing difficulties in educating their staff effectively. Building trust with customers and partners has always been central to the company’s approach, especially as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more prominent and customers and prospects are looking to discern between the real versus fake. Career Certified prides itself on the quality of the people behind both the coursework and the technology, which sets them apart from competitors. 

Dan also emphasizes the importance of careful management of sales and marketing spend, closely tracking return on investment (ROI) and fine-tuning programs to achieve the best LTV (lifetime value) to CAC (customer acquisition cost) ratio. For Dan, it’s all about building programs that support products, reduce friction, and increase customer confidence. Ultimately, customers want to feel assured that the courses will help them achieve their goals—whether that’s career advancement, compliance, or starting a new profession. The challenge lies in balancing the delivery of content, focusing on critical components, and maintaining regulatory compliance while offering an approachable, engaging, and efficient educational experience. 

Beyond Education 

Dan used to view Career Certified primarily as an education company, especially given their deep involvement with regulators and their commitment to content accuracy, which outpaces many competitors. However, he has come to realize that they are also very much a technology company. With half a million students accessing coursework annually, portals for partners and universities, and opportunities to create efficiencies across various business lines, the company has evolved to be scalable and unified. This growth, Dan believes, has positioned them as the leader in multi-vertical education. 

As multi-vector online education provider relying on ecommerce and learning management systems, technology is central to their operations. Career Certified continually assesses how they can enhance the customer experience through improved tech solutions. A key focus is on using data not just to deliver education, but to provide insights, recommendations, and ongoing support throughout the student’s educational journey. This ensures that both the experience and outcomes are optimized, aligning with the company’s mission to deliver an exceptional and impactful learning experience. 

Bite-Sized Success 

Dan acknowledges that different factors affect each industry, with some overlaps and niche challenges, but a shared experience like COVID in 2020 accelerated the need for virtual education. Today, it’s not just about offering virtual courses, but making them as good as in-person learning, memorable, and impactful. Education now has to be accessible on-the-go and easily consumable. Bite-sized and microlearning courses have become the preferred options for many professionals, allowing them to manage their workload while gaining new knowledge or skills without dedicating entire days to complete a course. This forward-thinking approach ensures that Career Certified remains relevant and ahead of the curve in an ever-changing educational landscape. 

Dan’s approach to staying competitive in a rapidly evolving market centers on a customer-first mentality, which he believes will always keep a company ahead of market needs. He emphasizes that the personas of today’s customers are evolving, having been raised with innovative technology, which requires companies to be in tune with both industry and regulatory developments. Being in contact with customers and prospects allows Career Certified to craft a forward-thinking strategy, rather than simply maintaining the status quo. 

Nature’s Wisdom 

Dan’s approach to leadership and work-life balance is rooted in the belief that health comes first. He emphasizes that maintaining both physical and mental well-being is essential for being effective in any role, whether supporting colleagues or customers. For Dan, spending time in nature plays a crucial role in fostering creativity and problem-solving, often allowing him to approach business challenges with fresh perspectives. 

In a world full of constant stimulus, Dan believes it’s easy to get caught up in the “hamster wheel” of endless tasks and distractions. He values slowing down, reflecting, and refocusing to sift through the noise and identify what truly matters. Outdoor activities like cycling and hiking not only provide him with a sense of balance but also help him stay focused and less reactive. By committing time to these pursuits, Dan finds himself more centered and capable of maintaining a clear vision in both his personal and professional life. 

Shaped by Empathy and Perseverance 

Dan credits his upbringing by a single mother for instilling in him values like empathy, humility, conviction, and perseverance. These qualities have shaped his leadership approach, making him a listener and a lifelong learner. He continuously observes and evaluates how he can apply lessons to improve himself, his team, and the business. 

Influenced by thought leaders such as Simon Sinek, Jim Collins, and Malcolm Gladwell, Dan also revisits stoic philosophy, drawing insights from figures like Marcus Aurelius and Seneca, as well as modern interpretations by Ryan Holiday. His development has been greatly influenced by exceptional leaders throughout his career, from his time at UPS with mentors like Matt Tully, Greg McLaren, Monica Vail, and Jeff Courtney, to his experience at The CE Shop under Michael McAllister and Ken Horner. Now, at Career Certified, Dan continues to grow under the guidance of Gary Weiss and the executive leadership team. 

Blueprint for Aspiring Leaders 

Dan’s advice to aspiring leaders in the education and certification industry is to hire individuals who possess a genuine passion for serving others, a collaborative mindset, and the humility to leave their egos at the door. He believes that when people come together with respect, focus, and a shared commitment to doing what’s best for customers, success naturally follows. By fostering an environment driven by these values, aspiring leaders can build teams that excel and create meaningful impact in their industries.

Company Name: Career Certified