Resilience on the factory floor
Dongguan is one of the Pearl River Delta’s great manufacturing cities. Paris brings The Grit Code to its plants, suppliers and international teams.
Electronics, toys and exports
Dongguan’s exports, at about $65.5 billion, are behind only Shenzhen, Shanghai and Suzhou among Chinese cities.
Electronics lead the economy, and Samsung, Nokia, DuPont, Nestlé and Maersk have all operated here. The city also has around 4,000 toy companies.
The Songshan Lake high-tech park opened in 2003, and the Dongguan Science and Technology Museum followed in December 2005.
Who Paris speaks to in Dongguan
Electronics and toy makers
Keynotes for plant managers and supervisors.
Export businesses
Talks on resilience through changing orders.
Songshan Lake companies
Sessions for R&D teams.
Basketball and sports teams
Performance under pressure.
Rooms and stages
In Dongguan most events happen in factory conference rooms, the Songshan Lake campuses and hotels used by visiting buyers.
- Songshan Lake – the high-tech park and its company campuses
- Dongguan Basketball Center – opened in 2014, home of the Guangdong Southern Tigers
- Dongguan University of Technology – the city’s main university campus
Pick the format
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 →
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.
See the Shenzhen and Guangzhou pages next door, or read The Grit Code. Keynote speaker Shenzhen · Keynote speaker Guangzhou · The Grit Code keynote
On stage or on screen
Available for in-person events in Dongguan, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book speakers about three months ahead, so get in touch early to secure your date.
Paris presents in English. Organisers can arrange an interpreter if the audience would benefit.
See also keynote speaker in China, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Dongguan’s economy and who the talk is for
Dongguan has a population of about 10,466,625 (2020 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Companies headquartered in Dongguan include vivo (electronics industry).
Technology and software (vivo). 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
Dongguan’s universities, including Dongguan University of Technology, 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 Dongguan
Beyond the main conference halls, Dongguan also has large venues for major events, including Dongguan Arena.
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
- Paris starts with a short briefing call to understand the room, the sector and the challenge in front of it.
- The keynote uses film from his expeditions and TV work to make each idea concrete.
- Many organisers pair it with a Grit Deconstruction workshop or ask Paris to host the full day.
The content is shaped around Dongguan 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.
Credentials at a glance
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Dongguan?
Yes. He is available for Dongguan conferences, offsites and leadership events, on site or online.
Does Paris speak to factory and operations teams?
Yes. He talks about shift work, fatigue and keeping standards high under pressure.
Can a keynote be combined with a workshop for supervisors?
Yes. The Grit Deconstruction workshop works well after the keynote.
Which Dongguan industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Dongguan it suits 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 Dongguan?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as Dongguan University of Technology, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Dongguan?
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 Dongguan?
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.
Planning an event in Dongguan?
Tell us about the room and the date. You can also book a call.