Grit keynotes for Kuala Lumpur conferences and leadership teams
Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia’s capital and a growing regional conference hub, dominated by the Petronas Twin Towers. Paris brings The Grit Code to its audiences.
A skyline built on ambition
The Petronas Twin Towers were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004. Kuala Lumpur is home to Bursa Malaysia, the country’s stock exchange, and to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre beside the towers.
Paris ran seven marathons on seven continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, and rowed 4,800 km of the Pacific.
Energy, banking and Islamic-finance teams in Kuala Lumpur deliver ambitious long-term plans. The keynote helps them keep going.
Who Paris speaks to in Kuala Lumpur
Energy
Resilience keynotes for operational teams.
Banking and Islamic finance
Conferences for financial teams.
Regional headquarters
Events for teams covering South-East Asia.
Congresses
Main-stage keynotes at KLCC.
Where Kuala Lumpur meets
Kuala Lumpur hosts regional congresses and trade fairs at KLCC and MITEC.
- Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre – in the KLCC precinct
- MITEC – the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre
Ways to book Paris in Kuala Lumpur
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 →
Tested at sea, on the ice and on stage
7 marathons, 7 continents
Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Rowed the Pacific
4,800 km in 2023, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
See Paris as a keynote speaker in Singapore, or browse all locations. Keynote speaker Singapore · Keynote speaker Malaysia
Speaking in Kuala Lumpur, in person or virtually
Available for in-person events in Kuala Lumpur, 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.
See also keynote speaker in Malaysia, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Kuala Lumpur’s economy and who the talk is for
Kuala Lumpur has a population of about 9,000,280 (2025 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Businesses with their headquarters in Kuala Lumpur include Petronas (petroleum industry), CIMB (financial sector), Axiata (telecommunications industry), Genting Group (hospitality industry), Maxis Communications (mobile phone industry) and Parkson (department store).
Energy and resources (Petronas and Tenaga Nasional). For energy and resources businesses, grit is about consistency over decades-long assets. Paris shows how small, repeatable routines beat bursts of motivation, using the 7 marathons on 7 continents as the case study.
Telecoms (Axiata and Maxis Communications). 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.
Banking and financial services (CIMB). 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.
Students, graduates and faculty
Higher education is part of Kuala Lumpur’s talent pipeline, with institutions such as Universiti Malaya, Taylor's University and Al-Madinah International 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
- Each booking begins with a call about the audience and what success looks like after the event.
- The talk turns the 7-marathon challenge and the Pacific row into habits teams can use on Monday morning.
- A virtual version of 30–45 minutes is available for distributed teams.
The content is shaped around Kuala Lumpur 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.
- 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.
- 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 Kuala Lumpur?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences, company events and leadership programmes in Kuala Lumpur, in person or virtually.
How far ahead should we book a Kuala Lumpur event?
About three months ahead is typical.
Is the talk relevant to energy companies?
Yes. It is built on endurance and adapting under pressure.
Can Paris also speak in Singapore?
Yes. See the Singapore page.
Which Kuala Lumpur industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Kuala Lumpur it suits energy and resources, telecoms and banking and financial services audiences in particular, along with leadership teams, sales kick-offs and all-hands meetings in any industry.
Does Paris speak at universities in Kuala Lumpur?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as Universiti Malaya and Taylor's University, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Kuala Lumpur?
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 Kuala Lumpur?
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.
Bring grit to your next Kuala Lumpur event
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More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · TV shows · Contact