Grit keynotes in Cape Town, a marathon city
Cape Town was the African leg of Paris’s seven marathons on seven continents. He brings the story back to the CTICC and the city’s conference venues.
The African marathon
Paris ran seven marathons on seven continents (Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami) in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Cape Town, beneath Table Mountain where the Atlantic meets the Cape coast, is one of Africa’s leading conference cities, and hosts the Two Oceans Marathon each year.
An ocean city suits Paris’s ocean story too: 4,800 km rowing the Pacific, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Who Paris speaks to in Cape Town
Tourism and hospitality
Talks for the visitor economy.
International congresses
Main-stage keynotes at the CTICC.
Tech and start-ups
Grit for founders in the city’s tech scene.
Marine and conservation
Ocean stories for purpose-led teams.
Where Cape Town meets
The CTICC hosts international congresses and the city stages major sporting events, including the Two Oceans Marathon.
- CTICC – the Cape Town International Convention Centre on the Foreshore
- V&A Waterfront venues – hotels and event spaces by the harbour
Ways to book Paris in Cape Town
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 about the seven marathons in the IHG Ignite recap. IHG Ignite: 7 marathons, 7 continents · Keynote speaker Johannesburg
Speaking in Cape Town, in person or virtually
Available for in-person events in Cape Town, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book speakers about three months ahead, so get in touch early to secure your date.
See also keynote speaker in South Africa, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Cape Town’s economy and who the talk is for
Cape Town has a population of about 3,776,313 (2021 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Companies headquartered in Cape Town include Naspers (e-commerce), Old Mutual (financial services) and Woolworths (retail).
Technology and software (Naspers). Technology teams ship, fail, learn and ship again. Paris connects that loop to life on an ocean rowing boat, where a broken plan is normal and the crew that adapts fastest wins. It suits engineering all-hands, product kick-offs and AI transformation programmes.
Banking and financial services (Old Mutual). Banking and finance audiences respond to evidence. Paris frames grit as a measurable habit rather than a personality trait, and links it to the pressure of targets, regulation and market swings that finance teams face every quarter.
Retail and consumer goods (Woolworths). Retail and consumer brands live and die by execution. Paris has spoken for Kraft Heinz and Al Kabeer Foods, and the keynote helps sales and store teams keep going through peak seasons and tough trading.
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 Cape Town 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 Cape Town
In Cape Town, the most common bookings fall into a few groups:
- 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.
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
Drakensberg to Johannesburg, time on the ground
Paris has not had clients in South Africa, but he has spent considerable time there discovering the Drakensberg, Cape Town, Durban, Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg.
Cape Town was also one of the seven cities in his 7 marathons on 7 continents challenge. South African organisers can book The Grit Code in person or virtually; the pages below are for booking, not a list of past South African clients.
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Cape Town?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences, company events and leadership programmes in Cape Town, in person or virtually.
Has Paris run in Cape Town?
Yes. Cape Town was one of his seven marathons on seven continents.
How far ahead should we book a Cape Town event?
About three months ahead is typical.
Does Paris speak about marine conservation?
Yes. His Pacific row raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Which Cape Town industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Cape Town it suits technology and software, banking and financial services and retail and consumer goods audiences in particular, along with leadership teams, sales kick-offs and all-hands meetings in any industry.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Cape Town?
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 Cape Town?
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.
Has Paris had clients in South Africa?
No. He has not had clients in South Africa, but he has spent considerable time there discovering the Drakensberg, Cape Town, Durban, Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg, and Cape Town was one of his 7 marathon cities.
Bring grit to your next Cape Town event
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More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · TV shows · Contact