Grit keynotes for Philadelphia’s healthcare and university leaders
Philadelphia is where the Declaration of Independence was signed, and today it is a centre for healthcare, education and life sciences. Paris brings The Grit Code to its events.
A city built on perseverance
Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania. Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were signed, stands in its historic centre.
Its universities and hospital systems make it a city of long careers and hard problems, exactly the ground grit covers.
Paris rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific in 2023, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation, and he tells that story on stage.
Who Paris speaks to in Philadelphia
Hospitals and life sciences
Resilience keynotes for clinical and research teams.
Universities
Talks for students and faculty.
Conferences
Main-stage keynotes for annual meetings.
Financial services
Sessions for teams under constant pressure.
Where Philadelphia meets
The Pennsylvania Convention Center hosts medical, scientific and trade conferences throughout the year.
- Pennsylvania Convention Center – Center City
- University and hotel venues – across Center City and University City
Ways to book Paris in Philadelphia
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 →
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.
Watch the Pacific row film for a sense of the story behind the keynote. 39 days at sea: the Pacific row film · The Grit Code keynote
Speaking in Philadelphia, in person or virtually
Available for in-person events in Philadelphia, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book US speakers three to five months ahead, so an early enquiry gives the best chance of your preferred date.
See also keynote speaker in the USA, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Philadelphia’s economy and who the talk is for
Philadelphia has a population of about 1,603,797 (2020 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Philadelphia is the head-office city for organisations such as Comcast (telecommunications industry), Urban Outfitters (retail), Aramark (food service), Five Below (discount store) and Chemtura (chemical industry).
Retail and consumer goods (Urban Outfitters and Aramark). 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.
Telecoms (Comcast). 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.
Manufacturing and engineering (Chemtura). For industrial and engineering businesses, Paris’s message is that resilience is built, not born. Safety days, operations conferences and leadership offsites are typical bookings.
Students, graduates and faculty
Higher education is part of Philadelphia’s talent pipeline, with institutions such as Temple University, Saint Joseph's University and Thomas Jefferson 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 Philadelphia
Beyond the main conference halls, Philadelphia also has large venues for major events, including Congress Hall and Robert N.C. Nix, Sr. Federal Building.
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 Philadelphia 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 ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
- 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.
- 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 Philadelphia?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences, company events and leadership programmes in Philadelphia, in person or virtually.
Can Paris speak to medical audiences?
Yes. The keynote is tailored in a briefing call to the pressures your people face, including in healthcare.
Which Philadelphia industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Philadelphia it suits retail and consumer goods, telecoms 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 Philadelphia?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as Temple University and Saint Joseph's University, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Philadelphia?
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 Philadelphia?
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 Philadelphia event
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More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · TV shows · Contact