Resilience keynotes for Kansas City conferences and companies
Kansas City spans the Missouri–Kansas state line. Paris brings The Grit Code to its headquarters, associations and teams.
A city on two states
Kansas City, Missouri, is the larger half of a metro area that straddles the state line with Kansas.
Hallmark Cards is headquartered here, and the region has strong agribusiness, logistics and engineering sectors.
In 2023 Paris rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Who Paris speaks to in Kansas City
Headquarters
Opening keynotes for annual meetings.
Agribusiness
Resilience for food and farming teams.
Engineering firms
Talks for project teams.
Associations
Main-stage sessions.
Rooms and stages
The Kansas City Convention Center hosts national associations and trade shows.
- Kansas City Convention Center – downtown
- Power & Light District venues – in the city centre
Pick the format
The Grit Code keynote (45–60 min) · Grit Deconstruction workshop (90 min to half day) · virtual keynote (30–45 min) · event host and MC. 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.
Read the Nokia recap. Nokia grit and change recap · The Grit Code keynote
On stage or on screen
Available for in-person events in Kansas City, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book US speakers three to five months ahead, so get in touch early to secure your date.
See also keynote speaker in the USA, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
An adventurer with American chapters
Paris Norriss's biggest adventure ended in the United States. With the Brothers N Oars crew he rowed 4,800 km from California to Hawaii in 39 days, 4 hours and 28 minutes, as part of a self-supported, unassisted team in the World's Toughest Row. The row raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation, and Paris went on to live in Hawaii for three months.
In 2025 he delivered his keynote to the US Army at Fort Shafter, Pearl Harbor, and he has spoken at Surfbreak in Honolulu. Miami was one of the stops when he ran seven marathons on seven continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
For Kansas City conferences, sales kick-offs and leadership offsites, The Grit Code turns those experiences into practical habits: purpose, vision, challenging limiting beliefs, adapting the plan and keeping a clear head under pressure. Organisers in the US typically book speakers three to five months ahead, and Paris also delivers 30 to 45-minute virtual keynotes in your time zone.
Kansas City’s economy and who the talk is for
Kansas City has a population of about 508,090 (2020 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Kansas City is the head-office city for organisations such as AMC Theatres (entertainment) and Hostess Brands (food industry).
Media and entertainment (AMC Theatres). Media and entertainment audiences get a speaker who works in their world. Paris created and hosted Guy in Dubai, which has 22 million views, and his shows have been distributed in 123 countries.
Manufacturing and engineering (Hostess Brands). Manufacturing and engineering audiences value process. The Grit Code breaks grit into habits that can be practised on a production line or a project site, using the discipline of a 4,800 km ocean row as the example.
Students, graduates and faculty
Kansas City’s universities, including Rockhurst University, Avila University and Kansas City University, 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 Kansas City
For bigger audiences and set-piece events, Kansas City venues include Hy-Vee 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 Kansas City 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 Kansas City
These are typical Kansas City 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
- 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.
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Kansas City?
Yes. He is available for Kansas City conferences, offsites and leadership events, on site or online.
Can the keynote open an annual meeting?
Yes. It is often booked to open conferences and kick-offs.
Has Paris spoken in the United States?
Yes. He delivered his keynote to the US Army at Fort Shafter, Pearl Harbor, in 2025 and has spoken at Surfbreak in Honolulu.
How far ahead should US events book Paris?
Organisers in the US typically book speakers three to five months ahead. Virtual keynotes can often be arranged at shorter notice.
Which Kansas City industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Kansas City it suits media and entertainment 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 Kansas City?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as Rockhurst University and Avila University, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Kansas City?
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 Kansas City?
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 Kansas City?
Tell us about the room and the date. You can also book a call.