Grit for Shenyang’s heavy industry
Shenyang, once Mukden, is the capital of Liaoning and a centre of aerospace and machinery. Paris brings The Grit Code to its engineers and managers.
An industrial base rebuilding itself
Shenyang, known in Manchu as Mukden, is the capital of Liaoning. The Mukden Palace, built from 1625, housed the first Qing emperors and is now a museum.
It was once one of China’s top three industrial centres. Aerospace, machine tools and defence remain strong, and Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, founded in 1951, is China’s oldest aircraft maker.
The Revitalize Northeast China programme brought in software and automotive investment, and the city hosted the 2006 International Horticultural Exposition.
Who Paris speaks to in Shenyang
Aircraft and engineering
Keynotes on precision and pressure.
Machine tools and industry
Talks for operations leaders.
Car makers and suppliers
Sessions for plant teams.
Northeastern University
Talks for students and faculty.
Event venues
Company events in Shenyang run in the hotels around Shenhe and Heping districts, and in the industrial parks.
- Mukden Palace – the former Qing palace, now a museum in the city centre
- Shenyang Olympic Sports Center – a 60,000-seat stadium nicknamed the Crystal Crown
- Northeastern University – the main university campus
Ways to book Paris in Shenyang
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 →
Why audiences believe him
5 days, 21 hours, 51 minutes
The time it took Paris to run 7 marathons on 7 continents: Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami.
More than £150,000 raised
For marine conservation, by rowing 4,800 km across the Pacific in 2023.
Read how The Grit Code is built, or see the Beijing page. The Grit Code keynote · Keynote speaker Beijing · 39 days at sea: the Pacific row film
Booking for Shenyang
Available for in-person events in Shenyang, 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.
Shenyang’s economy and who the talk is for
Shenyang has a population of about 9,070,093 (2020 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Shenyang is the head-office city for organisations such as Neusoft (software development).
Technology and software (Neusoft). For software and tech companies, the talk focuses on resilience during constant change, including the shift to AI. As CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company, Paris speaks from inside that change rather than about it.
Students, graduates and faculty
Higher education is part of Shenyang’s talent pipeline, with institutions such as Northeastern University, Liaoning University and Shenyang Normal 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 →
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 Shenyang 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 Shenyang
Organisers in Shenyang usually book Paris for one of these occasions:
- 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.
- 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.
Questions from Shenyang organisers
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Shenyang?
Yes. Organisers in Shenyang can book him in person or for a virtual session.
Does Paris speak to engineering and manufacturing teams?
Yes. He talks about endurance and decision-making when the stakes are high.
Can the keynote support a change or turnaround programme?
Yes. He often works with teams going through change, and the briefing call shapes the message.
Which Shenyang industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Shenyang it suits technology and software audiences in particular, along with leadership teams, sales kick-offs and all-hands meetings in any industry.
Does Paris speak at universities in Shenyang?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as Northeastern University and Liaoning University, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Shenyang?
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 Shenyang?
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.
Check a date for Shenyang
Send the basics and Paris’s team will reply, or book a call.