Grit keynotes for Atlanta’s corporate headquarters
Atlanta is home to the headquarters of Coca-Cola, Delta and The Home Depot, and to one of the largest convention centres in the US. Paris brings The Grit Code to its events.
Headquarters city, big stages
Atlanta is the capital of Georgia and a base for major corporate headquarters, including Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines and The Home Depot.
Global brands have booked Paris for their own leadership events, including Kraft Heinz, IHG, Nokia and DHL.
The keynote is built on 7 marathons on 7 continents and a 4,800 km Pacific row.
Who Paris speaks to in Atlanta
Leadership conventions
Keynotes for national and regional leadership meetings.
Sales kick-offs
Openers for teams with big targets.
Logistics
Resilience for operations teams.
Universities
Talks for students and staff.
Where Atlanta meets
The Georgia World Congress Center is one of the largest convention venues in the United States.
- Georgia World Congress Center – downtown Atlanta
- Hotel venues – in Downtown, Midtown and Buckhead
Ways to book Paris in Atlanta
Options: keynote, 45 to 60 minutes · workshop, 90 minutes up to half a day · virtual session, 30 to 45 minutes · host or MC for your event. Compare formats →
Why audiences believe him
5 days, 21 hours, 51 minutes
The time it took Paris to run 7 marathons on 7 continents: Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami.
More than £150,000 raised
For marine conservation, by rowing 4,800 km across the Pacific in 2023.
Read how Paris spoke at the Kraft Heinz leadership convention. Kraft Heinz leadership convention recap · The Grit Code keynote
Speaking in Atlanta, in person or virtually
Available for in-person events in Atlanta, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book US speakers three to five months ahead, so get in touch early to secure your date.
See also keynote speaker in the USA, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
An adventurer with American chapters
Paris Norriss's biggest adventure ended in the United States. With the Brothers N Oars crew he rowed 4,800 km from California to Hawaii in 39 days, 4 hours and 28 minutes, as part of a self-supported, unassisted team in the World's Toughest Row. The row raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation, and Paris went on to live in Hawaii for three months.
In 2025 he delivered his keynote to the US Army at Fort Shafter, Pearl Harbor, and he has spoken at Surfbreak in Honolulu. Miami was one of the stops when he ran seven marathons on seven continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
For Atlanta conferences, sales kick-offs and leadership offsites, The Grit Code turns those experiences into practical habits: purpose, vision, challenging limiting beliefs, adapting the plan and keeping a clear head under pressure. Organisers in the US typically book speakers three to five months ahead, and Paris also delivers 30 to 45-minute virtual keynotes in your time zone.
Atlanta’s economy and who the talk is for
Atlanta has a population of about 498,715 (2020 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Businesses with their headquarters in Atlanta include Delta Air Lines (air transport), The Coca-Cola Company (beverage industry), NCR Corporation (information and communications technology), AT&T Mobility (mobile phone industry), Newell Brands (consumer goods industry) and Invesco (financial services).
Manufacturing and engineering (The Coca-Cola Company and Newell Brands). For industrial and engineering businesses, Paris’s message is that resilience is built, not born. Safety days, operations conferences and leadership offsites are typical bookings.
Aviation, transport and logistics (Delta Air Lines). Logistics and transport audiences understand relentless schedules. Paris’s past clients include DHL, and the keynote draws on what it takes to keep going when every hour counts.
Technology and software (NCR Corporation). For software and tech companies, the talk focuses on resilience during constant change, including the shift to AI. As CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company, Paris speaks from inside that change rather than about it.
Students, graduates and faculty
Atlanta’s universities, including Atlanta University Center, make it a strong market for student, graduate and alumni events. Paris speaks to young audiences about effort, setbacks and choosing hard goals, and to faculty about building resilient teams.
Typical formats include welcome weeks, graduation events, entrepreneurship programmes and alumni dinners. University keynote speaker →
Other large venues in Atlanta
For bigger audiences and set-piece events, Atlanta venues include Elbert P. Tuttle United States Court of Appeals Building.
Paris is comfortable on any stage, from an arena to a boardroom, and can also host the main stage as MC. Event host and MC →
How a Grit Code session works
- Each booking begins with a call about the audience and what success looks like after the event.
- The talk turns the 7-marathon challenge and the Pacific row into habits teams can use on Monday morning.
- A virtual version of 30–45 minutes is available for distributed teams.
The content is shaped around Atlanta organisations and their goals, so the room hears examples that match its own challenges. Paris presents as an adventurer and CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, not as a theorist.
Where the talk fits in Atlanta
Organisers in Atlanta usually book Paris for one of these occasions:
- Annual company conferences and town halls.
- Change and transformation programmes, including AI adoption.
- Safety, wellbeing and performance days for operations teams.
- Charity dinners and community events, which Paris knows well as an ambassador for Gulf for Good.
Credentials at a glance
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Atlanta?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences, company events and leadership programmes in Atlanta, in person or virtually.
Has Paris spoken at corporate leadership conventions?
Yes. He has spoken at events including the Kraft Heinz leadership convention and IHG Ignite.
Has Paris spoken in the United States?
Yes. He delivered his keynote to the US Army at Fort Shafter, Pearl Harbor, in 2025 and has spoken at Surfbreak in Honolulu.
How far ahead should US events book Paris?
Organisers in the US typically book speakers three to five months ahead. Virtual keynotes can often be arranged at shorter notice.
Which Atlanta industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Atlanta it suits manufacturing and engineering, aviation, transport and logistics and technology and software audiences in particular, along with leadership teams, sales kick-offs and all-hands meetings in any industry.
Does Paris speak at universities in Atlanta?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as Atlanta University Center, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Atlanta?
Yes. The Grit Deconstruction workshop runs from 90 minutes to half a day and turns the keynote’s ideas into team habits and actions.
Can the keynote be delivered online for teams in Atlanta?
Yes. A 30–45 minute virtual version is available for remote or hybrid audiences, delivered in your local time zone.
Who has Paris spoken for?
Past clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
Bring grit to your next Atlanta event
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More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · TV shows · Contact