Grit keynotes for São Paulo conferences and corporate teams
São Paulo is Brazil’s business capital. Paris ran the South American leg of his seven marathons in Fortaleza, and brings The Grit Code to Brazilian audiences.
Brazil’s business capital
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil and in the Southern Hemisphere, home to B3, Brazil’s stock exchange, and to Avenida Paulista, one of the country’s main financial avenues.
Paris’s seven marathons on seven continents included Fortaleza in Brazil, completed in a total of 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Brazilian corporate teams face volatile markets. The keynote gives them tools for perseverance and adapting the plan.
Who Paris speaks to in São Paulo
Corporate headquarters
Conferences for national and regional teams.
Banking
Offsites for financial teams.
Agribusiness and industry
Resilience sessions for operational teams.
Sales kick-offs
Energy for the year ahead.
Where São Paulo meets
São Paulo hosts many of Latin America’s largest trade fairs and conferences.
- São Paulo Expo – one of Latin America’s largest exhibition centres
- Distrito Anhembi and hotel venues – across the city
Ways to book Paris in São Paulo
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 →
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.
Fortaleza was the South American marathon. The Grit Code keynote · Keynote speaker Brazil
Speaking in São Paulo, in person or virtually
Available for in-person events in São Paulo, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book speakers about three months ahead, so an early enquiry gives the best chance of your preferred date.
Paris presents in English. Organisers can arrange an interpreter, for example into Portuguese, if the audience would benefit.
See also keynote speaker in Brazil, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
São Paulo’s economy and who the talk is for
São Paulo has a population of about 11,451,999 (2022 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Businesses with their headquarters in São Paulo include Itaú Unibanco (economics of banking), JBS S.A. (meatpacking industry), AmBev (beverage industry), Vivo (mobile phone industry), Tectoy (video game industry) and Nubank (financial services).
Banking and financial services (Itaú Unibanco and Nubank). 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.
Manufacturing and engineering (JBS S.A. and AmBev). 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.
Telecoms (Vivo). 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.
Students, graduates and faculty
Higher education is part of São Paulo’s talent pipeline, with institutions such as University of São Paulo, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo and UniÍtalo. 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 São Paulo
For bigger audiences and set-piece events, São Paulo venues include Palácio da Justiça.
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 São Paulo 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 São Paulo
These are typical São Paulo 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 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.
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
- 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 São Paulo?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences, company events and leadership programmes in São Paulo, in person or virtually.
Has Paris run in Brazil?
Yes. Fortaleza was one of his seven marathons on seven continents.
Does Paris present in Portuguese?
He presents in English. Organisers can arrange an interpreter if needed.
How far ahead should we book?
About three months ahead is typical.
Which São Paulo industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In São Paulo it suits banking and financial services, manufacturing and engineering and telecoms audiences in particular, along with leadership teams, sales kick-offs and all-hands meetings in any industry.
Does Paris speak at universities in São Paulo?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as University of São Paulo and Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in São Paulo?
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 São Paulo?
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 São Paulo event
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More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · TV shows · Contact