Grit keynotes for Shanghai’s international teams
Shanghai runs the world’s busiest container port and Asia-Pacific’s largest stock exchange. Paris brings an English-language Grit Code keynote to its multinational teams.
The Bund, Pudong and the port
The Port of Shanghai is the world’s busiest container port, and the city handled 18.5% of China’s imports and exports in 2023.
The Shanghai Stock Exchange is the largest in the Asia-Pacific by market capitalisation. The Shanghai Free-Trade Zone was the first in mainland China, and Pudong’s redevelopment from the 1990s brought finance back to the city.
The Bund’s early 20th-century buildings face the Lujiazui skyline across the Huangpu River, and the International Congress and Convention Association counted 82 international meetings in Shanghai in 2018.
Who Paris speaks to in Shanghai
Regional headquarters
Leadership meetings for Asia-Pacific teams.
Banks and asset managers
Keynotes on risk and pressure.
Shipping and trade
Resilience for supply-chain teams.
International schools
The Grit Generation for students.
Rooms and stages
Large trade shows go to the NECC and SNIEC; leadership meetings and kick-offs usually use the hotels in Lujiazui and along the Bund.
- National Exhibition and Convention Center – in Qingpu by the Hongqiao transport hub, a four-hall landmark
- Shanghai New International Expo Centre – in Pudong, with 17 halls and more than 100 exhibitions a year
- Lujiazui hotels – ballrooms in the financial district
Pick the format
Most Shanghai 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 →
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.
Paris’s Pacific row crossed 4,800 km of ocean. Watch the film, or see the Hong Kong page. 39 days at sea: the Pacific row film · Keynote speaker Hong Kong · The Grit Code keynote
On stage or on screen
Available for in-person events in Shanghai, 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.
Shanghai’s economy and who the talk is for
Shanghai has a population of about 24,870,895 (2020 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Companies headquartered in Shanghai include SAIC Motor (automotive industry), China Baowu Steel Group (iron and steel industry), Cognosphere (video game industry), Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (manufacture of electronic components), Sina Corporation (Internet industry) and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank (bank).
Technology and software (Cognosphere, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation and Sina Corporation). 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.
Banking and financial services (Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and China COSCO Shipping). Banking and finance audiences respond to evidence. Paris frames grit as a measurable habit rather than a personality trait, and links it to the pressure of targets, regulation and market swings that finance teams face every quarter.
Automotive (SAIC Motor). Automotive teams balance engineering precision with commercial pressure. Paris was a brand ambassador for Land Rover Middle East, and the keynote shows how grit turns long development cycles and tough sales targets into steady progress.
Students, graduates and faculty
Higher education is part of Shanghai’s talent pipeline, with institutions such as Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai Theatre Academy and East China University of Political Science and Law. 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 Shanghai
For bigger audiences and set-piece events, Shanghai venues include Shanghai Oriental Sports Center and Luwan Stadium.
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
- Each booking begins with a call about the audience and what success looks like after the event.
- The talk turns the 7-marathon challenge and the Pacific row into habits teams can use on Monday morning.
- A virtual version of 30–45 minutes is available for distributed teams.
The content is shaped around Shanghai 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 Shanghai
These are typical Shanghai events for The Grit Code:
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Shanghai?
Yes. He is available for Shanghai conferences, offsites and leadership events, on site or online.
Does Paris speak in English or Mandarin?
He speaks in English. Many Shanghai multinationals run their meetings in English, and organisers can add interpretation.
Does Paris work with Asia-Pacific regional teams?
Yes. The keynote suits regional leadership meetings, and a virtual version can reach teams in several countries.
Which Shanghai industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Shanghai it suits technology and software, banking and financial services and automotive audiences in particular, along with leadership teams, sales kick-offs and all-hands meetings in any industry.
Does Paris speak at universities in Shanghai?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as Shanghai International Studies University and Shanghai Theatre Academy, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Shanghai?
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 Shanghai?
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 Shanghai?
Tell us about the room and the date. You can also book a call.