Grit keynotes in Fortaleza, a marathon city
Fortaleza is one of the seven cities where Paris ran a marathon in his 7-continent challenge. He brings The Grit Code to its conferences and teams.
One of the seven
Paris ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes: Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami.
Fortaleza is the capital of Ceará, on Brazil’s north-east coast.
Grit is passion and perseverance for long-term goals, and The Grit Code turns it into skills teams can train.
Who Paris speaks to in Fortaleza
Conferences
Main-stage keynotes.
Tourism
Talks for the visitor economy.
Founders
Grit for founders.
Universities
Talks for students.
Where Fortaleza meets
The Centro de Eventos do Ceará hosts conferences and fairs in the city.
- Centro de Eventos do Ceará – in Fortaleza
- Beachfront hotels – along the coast
Ways to book Paris in Fortaleza
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 Paris’s São Paulo page. Keynote speaker São Paulo · Keynote speaker Brazil
Speaking in Fortaleza, in person or virtually
Available for in-person events in Fortaleza, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book speakers about three months ahead, and shorter notice is sometimes possible, so it is worth asking.
Paris speaks in English, and organisers can add interpretation for the audience if needed.
See also keynote speaker in Brazil, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Fortaleza’s economy and who the talk is for
Fortaleza has a population of about 2,578,483 (2025 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Students, graduates and faculty
Higher education is part of Fortaleza’s talent pipeline, with institutions such as Universidade de Fortaleza and Ceará State University. Paris’s talks for students and graduates focus on grit as a skill that can be learned, using his own expeditions as evidence.
Typical formats include welcome weeks, graduation events, entrepreneurship programmes and alumni dinners. University keynote speaker →
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 Fortaleza 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 Fortaleza
These are typical Fortaleza events for The Grit Code:
- Leadership offsites and strategy days, where senior teams need energy for a hard year ahead.
- Sales kick-offs and annual conferences, where the talk resets ambition and stamina.
- Awards nights and staff celebrations, where Paris can speak or host.
- Graduation, alumni and entrepreneurship events.
Credentials at a glance
- 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.
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Formats, timing and next steps
Most organisers book a 45–60 minute Grit Code keynote with Q&A. Teams that want to go further add the Grit Deconstruction workshop, which runs from 90 minutes to half a day and turns the talk into habits and commitments the group can use on Monday morning.
A 30–45 minute virtual version is available for remote or hybrid audiences. Paris can also host the full day as MC, which keeps the tone consistent from the opening to the close. He is CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, so the briefing call covers both the audience’s goals and the practical run-of-show.
Past clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly. His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views. The talk draws on the 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, and on the 2023 Pacific row of 4,800 km that raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
To book, share the date, venue or virtual platform, audience size and the outcome you want. Paris replies with a short outline tailored to your room, then joins a briefing call before the event.
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Fortaleza?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences, company events and leadership programmes in Fortaleza, in person or virtually.
Has Paris been to Fortaleza?
Yes. Fortaleza was one of the seven cities in his 7 marathons on 7 continents.
Does Paris present in Portuguese?
He presents in English. Organisers can arrange interpretation if needed.
Does Paris speak at universities in Fortaleza?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as Universidade de Fortaleza and Ceará State University, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Fortaleza?
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 Fortaleza?
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.
How far in advance should we book?
Most organisers book between four and twelve weeks ahead. Last-minute bookings are sometimes possible if the date is free, especially for virtual sessions.
Does Paris travel for in-person events?
Yes. He speaks at conferences and company events worldwide, in person or virtually, and shapes each talk around the local audience.
What does the briefing call cover?
Audience profile, the outcome you want, industry language to use or avoid, AV needs, and whether a workshop or MC role is part of the day.
Bring grit to your next Fortaleza event
Share your date and audience, or book a call.
More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · TV shows · Contact