Grit keynotes for Austin’s tech and start-up teams
Austin, the capital of Texas, hosts SXSW and a fast-growing tech scene. Paris brings The Grit Code to founders, tech teams and universities.
Builders need staying power
Austin is the capital of Texas and home to the University of Texas at Austin. Each year it hosts South by Southwest (SXSW), the film, music and technology festival.
Start-ups live on persistence. Paris has worked with founders at Founders Dubai, Upside and Opus, and runs Grit Deconstruction workshops for teams.
His stories come from 7 marathons on 7 continents and a 4,800 km Pacific row.
Who Paris speaks to in Austin
Founders
Grit for founders building through uncertainty.
Tech companies
Keynotes for engineering and product teams.
Universities
Talks for students and researchers.
State agencies
Sessions for teams delivering long programmes.
Where Austin meets
The Austin Convention Center sits at the heart of SXSW and hosts technology and association conferences.
- Austin Convention Center – downtown Austin
- Hotel and university venues – across the city
Ways to book Paris in Austin
Choose the flagship Grit Code keynote (45–60 min), a Grit Deconstruction workshop (90 min to half day), a 30–45 min virtual keynote, or Paris as host and MC for the day. Compare formats →
Tested at sea, on the ice and on stage
7 marathons, 7 continents
Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Rowed the Pacific
4,800 km in 2023, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Read how Paris hosted the Founders Dubai AI fireside chat. Founders Dubai AI fireside chat · The Grit Code keynote
Speaking in Austin, in person or virtually
Available for in-person events in Austin, 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 Austin 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.
Austin’s economy and who the talk is for
Austin has a population of about 961,855 (2020 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Businesses with their headquarters in Austin include Tesla (automotive industry), Oracle Corporation (information technology consulting), CrowdStrike (computer security), Whole Foods Market (food industry), Devolver Digital (film industry) and National Instruments (information technology).
Technology and software (Oracle Corporation, CrowdStrike and Devolver Digital). 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.
Energy and resources (Tesla). For energy and resources businesses, grit is about consistency over decades-long assets. Paris shows how small, repeatable routines beat bursts of motivation, using the 7 marathons on 7 continents as the case study.
Manufacturing and engineering (Whole Foods Market). 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.
Students, graduates and faculty
Austin’s universities, including Concordia University Texas, Austin Community College District and Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin, 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 Austin
Beyond the main conference halls, Austin also has large venues for major events, including Frank Erwin Center, Gregory Gymnasium, United States Courthouse and United States Courthouse.
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
- Before the event, Paris speaks with the organiser about the audience and the outcome they want.
- On the day, the 45–60 minute Grit Code keynote mixes adventure film, stories and practical tools.
- Afterwards, teams can go deeper with a Grit Deconstruction workshop of 90 minutes to half a day.
The content is shaped around Austin 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 Austin
Organisers in Austin usually book Paris for one of these occasions:
- Kick-off meetings for new financial years, projects or teams.
- Industry association conferences and trade-show main stages.
- Executive retreats that pair the keynote with a Grit Deconstruction workshop.
- Hybrid all-hands meetings with a virtual version for remote staff.
Credentials at a glance
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
- 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 Austin?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences, company events and leadership programmes in Austin, in person or virtually.
Does Paris work with start-up audiences?
Yes. He has hosted and spoken at founder events including Founders Dubai and the Upside pitch competition.
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 Austin industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Austin it suits technology and software, energy and resources and manufacturing and engineering audiences in particular, along with leadership teams, sales kick-offs and all-hands meetings in any industry.
Does Paris speak at universities in Austin?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as Concordia University Texas and Austin Community College District, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Austin?
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 Austin?
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.
More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · TV shows · Contact