Resilience keynotes for Bakersfield’s energy and farming leaders
Bakersfield is the hub of Kern County, California’s leading oil county and a farming powerhouse. Paris brings The Grit Code to its events.
Oil, carrots and country music
Kern County produces more oil than any other county in California and ranks among the top agricultural counties in the US by value.
The county grows around 80% of the carrots in the United States.
The city gave its name to the Bakersfield sound of Buck Owens and Merle Haggard.
Who Paris speaks to in Bakersfield
Oil and energy
Resilience for field and office teams.
Agriculture
Keynotes for growers and food producers.
CSU Bakersfield
Talks for students and staff.
County and city
Sessions for public-service leaders.
Where Bakersfield meets
The downtown arena, theatre and convention centre complex hosts Bakersfield’s larger conferences.
- Dignity Health Arena, Theater and Convention Center – downtown, seating up to about 10,000
- Fox Theater – a historic theatre downtown
Keynote, workshop or virtual
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 →
Endurance you can measure
A marathon on every continent
7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, from Antarctica to Miami via Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid and Fortaleza.
4,800 km of open ocean
The 2023 Pacific row, which raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Read about the endurance challenges on The Grit Code page. The Grit Code keynote · Keynote speaker Los Angeles
How a booking works
Available for in-person events in Bakersfield, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book US speakers three to five months ahead, and shorter notice is sometimes possible, so it is worth asking.
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 Bakersfield 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.
Bakersfield’s economy and who the talk is for
Bakersfield has a population of about 403,455 (2020 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Other large venues in Bakersfield
Beyond the main conference halls, Bakersfield also has large venues for major events, including Dignity Health Event Center.
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 Bakersfield 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 Bakersfield
Organisers in Bakersfield 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
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Common questions
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Bakersfield?
Yes. Paris takes Bakersfield bookings for keynotes, workshops and hosting, live or virtual.
Does Paris speak to energy and farming audiences?
Yes. A briefing call tailors the stories to the pressures your teams face.
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.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Bakersfield?
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 Bakersfield?
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.
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