“If you want to touch the future, touch a life.”
Returning to her alma mater as Polk State College’s April 2026 Distinguished Alumnus, Debbie Harsh stood before graduates not simply as a retired banking executive, but as someone who had lived the kind of life she now urged them to build.
Harsh’s story is, in many ways, a familiar one in Polk County. A local student, a working professional, a community volunteer.
“Today is more than a ceremony,” she told the Spring 2026 Class at Polk State’s 134th commencement. “It’s a hinge moment … when the door behind you closes and a dozen new ones swing open at once.”
Steven S. Warner, Vice President of Resource Development and Executive Director of the Polk State College Foundation, said Harsh was chosen to speak to the graduating class as a Distinguished Alumna because she embodies the spirit of Polk State College.
“Debbie’s story is a powerful example of leadership driven by service, integrity, and a deep commitment to community,” Warner said.
A Winter Haven native, Harsh’s journey began at Polk Community College, where she earned her associate degree while balancing work and family. That experience, she said, changed the trajectory of her life and launched a four-decade career in banking.
Harsh rose to senior executive roles, including Chief Culture Officer, helping shape leadership and workplace culture across a major financial institution. But her message was not centered on titles or promotions.
Instead, she spoke candidly about the challenges that shaped her long before her professional success, including growing up in a home marked by hardship.
“I was raised in a home where my father struggled with alcoholism,” she said. “My childhood was tough, and I faced many challenges and heartbreaks.”
But she said those experiences did not define her; her responses did.
“We allow our circumstances to make us bitter or better, and the difference between the two is ‘I,’” Harsh said, emphasizing the power of personal choice.
That philosophy has carried through every chapter of her life, guiding her from her banking career to her extensive civic leadership, including past presidencies of multiple chambers of commerce and years of service with organizations like United Way of Central Florida.
Harsh’s impact on the community has earned widespread recognition, including the Banker’s Cup honor as Winter Haven Citizen of the Year. But success is not simply measured by where you end up, rather how you choose to grow through whatever comes your way and how you use that growth to change the lives of others.
“So hear me when I say this,” she told graduates, pausing as the room settled into silence. “In the middle of the pain you didn’t cause… the change you didn’t want… or the reality you never saw coming… your life can still be beautiful.”