Resilience keynotes for Seattle’s tech and aerospace teams
Seattle is home to Amazon and to a long aerospace history. Paris brings The Grit Code to its tech teams, leaders and conferences.
Long programmes, high stakes
Seattle is the largest city in Washington State and the Pacific Northwest. Amazon is headquartered in the city, and Microsoft in nearby Redmond.
Big engineering programmes run for years. Grit, passion and perseverance for long-term goals, is what keeps teams going between milestones.
Paris rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific in 2023, the ocean that Puget Sound opens onto.
Who Paris speaks to in Seattle
Cloud and software
Keynotes for engineering and product organisations.
Aerospace
Resilience for teams on long programmes.
Leadership offsites
Sessions for senior leaders.
Maritime
A story of 39 days on the Pacific.
Where Seattle meets
The Seattle Convention Center hosts technology, medical and association conferences year-round.
- Seattle Convention Center – downtown Seattle
- Waterfront hotels – along Elliott Bay
Ways to book Paris in Seattle
Most Seattle organisers book the 45–60 minute Grit Code keynote. Teams that want depth add a Grit Deconstruction workshop of 90 minutes to half a day, remote audiences get a 30–45 minute virtual version, and Paris can also host and moderate full-day events. 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 film of the row that ended in Hawaii. 39 days at sea: the Pacific row film · The Grit Code keynote
Speaking in Seattle, in person or virtually
Available for in-person events in Seattle, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book US speakers three to five months ahead, so get in touch early to secure your date.
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 Seattle 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.
Seattle’s economy and who the talk is for
Seattle has a population of about 737,015 (2020 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Seattle is the head-office city for organisations such as Amazon (e-commerce), Starbucks (coffee industry), Getty Images (publishing), Nordstrom (retail), Stratolaunch Systems (aerospace industry) and Expedia Group (Travel technology).
Technology and software (Amazon, Expedia Group and F5, Inc.). Technology teams ship, fail, learn and ship again. Paris connects that loop to life on an ocean rowing boat, where a broken plan is normal and the crew that adapts fastest wins. It suits engineering all-hands, product kick-offs and AI transformation programmes.
Manufacturing and engineering (Starbucks). 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.
Media and entertainment (Getty Images). Media and entertainment audiences get a speaker who works in their world. Paris created and hosted Guy in Dubai, which has 22 million views, and his shows have been distributed in 123 countries.
Students, graduates and faculty
Higher education is part of Seattle’s talent pipeline, with institutions such as City University of Seattle and Antioch University Seattle. 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 Seattle
Beyond the main conference halls, Seattle also has large venues for major events, including Climate Pledge Arena, Sonics Arena and William Kenzo Nakamura United States Courthouse.
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 Seattle 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 Seattle
Organisers in Seattle usually book Paris for one of these occasions:
- Kick-off meetings for new financial years, projects or teams.
- Industry association conferences and trade-show main stages.
- Executive retreats that pair the keynote with a Grit Deconstruction workshop.
- Hybrid all-hands meetings with a virtual version for remote staff.
Credentials at a glance
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
- 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.
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Seattle?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences, company events and leadership programmes in Seattle, in person or virtually.
Can the keynote be tailored for engineers?
Yes. Every talk starts with a briefing call so the stories connect to your team’s challenges.
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.
Which Seattle industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Seattle it suits technology and software, manufacturing and engineering and media and entertainment audiences in particular, along with leadership teams, sales kick-offs and all-hands meetings in any industry.
Does Paris speak at universities in Seattle?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as City University of Seattle and Antioch University Seattle, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Seattle?
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 Seattle?
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 Seattle event
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More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · TV shows · Contact