Keynotes in the City of Springs
Jinan is the capital of Shandong, famous for its 72 artesian springs and home to the truck maker Sinotruk. Paris brings The Grit Code to its teams.
Springs, steel and trucks
Jinan is known as the City of Springs for its 72 famous artesian springs, led by Baotu Spring, and Daming Lake sits in the city centre.
Iron, steel and chemical works grew here from the 1950s, and Sinotruk set up its headquarters and truck factories in Jinan in the 1970s.
Shandong University is the best known of several major universities in the city.
Who Paris speaks to in Jinan
Trucks and heavy vehicles
Keynotes for engineering and plant teams.
Steel and chemicals
Talks on safety, focus and endurance.
Provincial bodies
Resilience for frontline services.
Shandong University
Sessions for students and faculty.
Where Jinan meets
Jinan’s conferences and dinners use the Olympic Sports Center area and the hotels near Daming Lake.
- Jinan Olympic Sports Center – an 81-hectare complex built for the 2009 National Games
- Baotu Spring – the city’s best-known spring and park
- Thousand Buddha Mountain – a hill of carved Buddhas southeast of the centre
Keynote, workshop or virtual
Most Jinan organisers book the 45–60 minute Grit Code keynote. Teams that want depth add a Grit Deconstruction workshop of 90 minutes to half a day, remote audiences get a 30–45 minute virtual version, and Paris can also host and moderate full-day events. 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 Qingdao page, or watch the Pacific row film. Keynote speaker Qingdao · 39 days at sea: the Pacific row film · The Grit Code keynote
How a booking works
Available for in-person events in Jinan, 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.
Jinan’s economy and who the talk is for
Jinan has a population of about 9,202,432 (2020 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Companies headquartered in Jinan include Inspur (information industry) and Joyoung (home appliance industry).
Technology and software (Inspur). 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.
Manufacturing and engineering (Joyoung). 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
Higher education is part of Jinan’s talent pipeline, with institutions such as Shandong University, University of Jinan and Shandong Normal 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 →
Other large venues in Jinan
Beyond the main conference halls, Jinan also has large venues for major events, including Jinan Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium.
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 Jinan 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 Jinan
These are typical Jinan events for The Grit Code:
- 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
- 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.
- 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 Jinan?
Yes. Paris takes Jinan bookings for keynotes, workshops and hosting, live or virtual.
Does Paris speak to automotive and industrial audiences?
Yes. He focuses on endurance, safety and decisions under pressure.
Can Paris speak to public-sector teams in Shandong?
Yes. He tailors the keynote to frontline and leadership teams.
Which Jinan industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Jinan it suits technology and software 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 Jinan?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as Shandong University and University of Jinan, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Jinan?
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 Jinan?
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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