Resilience keynotes for Johannesburg and Sandton teams
Johannesburg is the business heart of South Africa and home to Africa’s largest stock exchange. The Grit Code is built for its high-pressure rooms.
Africa’s financial engine
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange in Sandton is the largest stock exchange in Africa, and the city grew from the Witwatersrand gold rush of 1886. Mining houses and major banks are headquartered here.
Paris ran a marathon in Cape Town as part of seven marathons on seven continents, so South Africa is part of his story.
Banking and mining teams operate under pressure and uncertainty. The keynote gives them practical tools for resilience.
Who Paris speaks to in Johannesburg
Banks and insurers
Conferences in Sandton.
Mining and resources
Resilience keynotes for operational teams.
Corporate
Leadership events for national teams.
Sales kick-offs
Energy for the year ahead.
Where Johannesburg meets
Sandton Convention Centre and Gallagher host major conferences and exhibitions year-round.
- Sandton Convention Centre – in the Sandton financial district
- Gallagher Convention Centre – in Midrand
Ways to book Paris in Johannesburg
Most Johannesburg 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.
Cape Town was the African leg of the seven marathons. Keynote speaker Cape Town · The Grit Code keynote
Speaking in Johannesburg, in person or virtually
Available for in-person events in Johannesburg, 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.
Johannesburg’s economy and who the talk is for
Johannesburg has a population of about 4,803,262 (2022 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Johannesburg is the head-office city for organisations such as MTN Group (mobile phone industry), Sasol (petroleum industry), Standard Bank (bank), ABSA Group Limited (financial services), AngloGold Ashanti (mining) and Sappi (pulp and paper industry).
Mining (AngloGold Ashanti, Impala Platinum and Gold Fields). Mining and resources teams work in tough environments where endurance matters. Paris’s stories from the Antarctic marathon and the Pacific row translate directly to remote-site and safety audiences.
Banking and financial services (Standard Bank and ABSA Group Limited). Financial services teams often ask for a keynote that respects their intelligence. The Grit Code uses real numbers (5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes for 7 marathons; 4,800 km rowed) to show how high performers manage risk, fatigue and decision-making under pressure.
Telecoms (MTN Group). Telecoms businesses run networks that can never stop. Paris has spoken for Nokia, and his message on steady, disciplined effort under pressure suits network, sales and customer teams alike.
Students, graduates and faculty
Higher education is part of Johannesburg’s talent pipeline, with institutions such as University of the Witwatersrand, University of Johannesburg and Industrial and Mining Water Research Unit. 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 Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg
These are typical Johannesburg 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.
- 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.
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
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 Johannesburg?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences, company events and leadership programmes in Johannesburg, in person or virtually.
Has Paris been to South Africa?
Yes. He ran a marathon in Cape Town as part of seven marathons on seven continents.
How far ahead should we book?
About three months ahead is typical.
Is the keynote relevant to mining teams?
Yes. It focuses on endurance and adapting the plan under pressure.
Which Johannesburg industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Johannesburg it suits mining, banking and financial services and telecoms audiences in particular, along with leadership teams, sales kick-offs and all-hands meetings in any industry.
Does Paris speak at universities in Johannesburg?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as University of the Witwatersrand and University of Johannesburg, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Johannesburg?
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 Johannesburg?
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 Johannesburg event
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More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · TV shows · Contact