Keynotes in the southern capital
Nanjing served as China’s capital under several dynasties and now has 68 universities and colleges. Paris brings The Grit Code to its researchers and companies.
Dynasties, research and electronics
Nanjing was capital of the Eastern Wu, the Eastern Jin and the Southern dynasties, and its heritage sites include the Presidential Palace, the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum.
Its GDP reached about US$272 billion in 2025, with services around 60%. Suning, NARI and Panda Electronics are based here, and Huawei, ZTE and Lenovo run R&D centres.
The city has 68 higher-education institutions, and Nanjing University is in the top ten on the Nature Index.
Who Paris speaks to in Nanjing
Electronics and power grid technology
Keynotes for engineering teams.
Research centres
Persistence for long projects.
Retail and services
Talks for customer-facing teams.
Universities
Sessions for students and faculty.
Where Nanjing meets
Nanjing’s trade shows and conferences use the Expo Center, with company events in the city’s hotels and on the campuses.
- Nanjing International Expo Center – 120,000 m² of exhibition space with 38 conference rooms
- Nanjing Olympic Sports Center – opened in 2005, a host of the 2014 Youth Olympics
- Purple Mountain – one of the city’s best-known scenic areas
Keynote, workshop or virtual
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 →
Why audiences believe him
5 days, 21 hours, 51 minutes
The time it took Paris to run 7 marathons on 7 continents: Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami.
More than £150,000 raised
For marine conservation, by rowing 4,800 km across the Pacific in 2023.
See the Shanghai and Suzhou pages, or watch the Pacific row film. Keynote speaker Shanghai · Keynote speaker Suzhou · 39 days at sea: the Pacific row film
How a booking works
Available for in-person events in Nanjing, 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 China, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Nanjing’s economy and who the talk is for
Nanjing has a population of about 9,314,685 (2020 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Nanjing is the head-office city for organisations such as Suning.com (retail), Panda Electronics (electronics) and Nanjing Iron and Steel Company Limited (iron and steel industry).
Retail and consumer goods (Suning.com). Retail and consumer brands live and die by execution. Paris has spoken for Kraft Heinz and Al Kabeer Foods, and the keynote helps sales and store teams keep going through peak seasons and tough trading.
Technology and software (Panda Electronics). For software and tech companies, the talk focuses on resilience during constant change, including the shift to AI. As CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company, Paris speaks from inside that change rather than about it.
Manufacturing and engineering (Nanjing Iron and Steel Company Limited). 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
Nanjing’s universities, including Nanjing Normal University, Southeast University and Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 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 Nanjing
Beyond the main conference halls, Nanjing also has large venues for major events, including Nanjing Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium and Wutaishan 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
- 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 Nanjing 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 Nanjing
These are typical Nanjing 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
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
Common questions
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Nanjing?
Yes. Paris takes Nanjing bookings for keynotes, workshops and hosting, live or virtual.
Can Paris speak at the Nanjing International Expo Center?
Yes. He gives keynotes at exhibitions and conferences and can host the stage.
Does Paris speak to university and research audiences?
Yes. He adapts the talk for students, researchers and faculty.
Which Nanjing industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Nanjing it suits retail and consumer goods, 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 Nanjing?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as Nanjing Normal University and Southeast University, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Nanjing?
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 Nanjing?
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.
More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · TV shows · Contact