Grit keynotes for Oakland’s port, health and tech teams
Oakland is home to Kaiser Permanente and Clorox and one of the busiest ports in the country. Paris brings The Grit Code to its conferences.
Port city on the Bay
The Port of Oakland is the busiest in Northern California and among the busiest container ports in the United States.
Kaiser Permanente and Clorox have their headquarters in the city.
Lake Merritt was designated the first official wildlife refuge in the United States.
Who Paris speaks to in Oakland
Healthcare
Keynotes for clinical and operations leaders.
Port and logistics
Resilience for teams moving freight around the clock.
Consumer goods
Sessions for brand and sales teams.
Tech and startups
Talks for founders and product teams.
Rooms and stages
The Oakland Convention Center and the Paramount Theatre host conferences and big-room keynotes downtown.
- Paramount Theatre – a 3,040-seat Art Deco hall on Broadway
- Oakland Marriott City Center – connected to the Oakland Convention Center
Pick the format
Choose the flagship Grit Code keynote (45–60 min), a Grit Deconstruction workshop (90 min to half day), a 30–45 min virtual keynote, or Paris as host and MC for the day. Compare formats →
Stories with the miles behind them
Seven marathons in under six days
Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami: 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Across the Pacific by rowing boat
A 4,800 km row in 2023 that raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
See the keynote overview. The Grit Code keynote · Keynote speaker San Francisco
On stage or on screen
Available for in-person events in Oakland, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book US speakers three to five months ahead, and shorter notice is sometimes possible, so it is worth asking.
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 Oakland 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.
Oakland’s economy and who the talk is for
Oakland has a population of about 440,646 (2020 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Oakland is the head-office city for organisations such as National Center for Science Education (science education).
Students, graduates and faculty
Higher education is part of Oakland’s talent pipeline, with institutions such as Oikos University and Samuel Merritt 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 Oakland
Beyond the main conference halls, Oakland also has large venues for major events, including Oakland 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
- 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 Oakland 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 Oakland
These are typical Oakland events for The Grit Code:
- Annual company conferences and town halls.
- Change and transformation programmes, including AI adoption.
- Safety, wellbeing and performance days for operations teams.
- Charity dinners and community events, which Paris knows well as an ambassador for Gulf for Good.
Credentials at a glance
- 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.
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Oakland?
Yes. He is available for Oakland conferences, offsites and leadership events, on site or online.
Can the keynote work for a healthcare system?
Yes. Talks for clinical audiences focus on stamina, recovery and keeping teams going through long shifts.
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.
Does Paris speak at universities in Oakland?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as Oikos University and Samuel Merritt University, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Oakland?
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 Oakland?
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 Oakland?
Tell us about the room and the date. You can also book a call.