Grit and resilience keynotes for American conferences
Adventurer, TV host and resilience speaker Paris Norriss helps American organizations build the grit to keep performing when the plan breaks. In person across the US, or virtually.
Talent opens doors. Grit keeps them open.
American teams are moving faster than ever: new targets, new tools and constant change. The organizations that win aren’t the ones that avoid hard moments, but the ones whose people keep moving through them.
That capacity has a name: grit, the mix of passion and perseverance that keeps people working toward a long-term goal. It isn’t a fixed trait. It can be understood, broken down and trained, and The Grit Code is Paris’ framework for doing exactly that.
Paris has already taken that message to American audiences, including US Army soldiers at Fort Shafter in Hawaii, where his 2023 Pacific row came ashore on Kauai.
Built for US rooms that need to perform
Conferences & sales kickoffs
Set the tone for a demanding year at national conferences, regional meetings and SKOs in New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando and beyond.
Leadership offsites
Give senior teams a shared language for pressure and a practical plan for leading through change.
Associations & government
Resilience for people serving under pressure, as delivered to the US Army.
Schools & universities
The Grit Generation program helps young people meet difficulty as something they have trained for.
Talks for US audiences
The Grit Code
Resilience, mental toughness and high performance, built from the Pacific, the ice and the start line, with tools your people can use on Monday morning.
The age of AI needs more grit
With AI taking on more of our hard tasks, the skill that never goes out of date is the ability to keep going when the plan breaks.
Grit Deconstruction workshop
A hands-on session for leadership teams and sales groups that maps where your team breaks under pressure and builds a plan to fix it.
Host / MC / panel
A seasoned TV presenter who keeps your program on time and your audience engaged.
Tested at sea, on the ice and on stage
Shows in 123 countries
His adventure TV shows are distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
7 marathons, 7 continents
Ran seven marathons on seven continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Rowed the Pacific
In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Main stages
TEDx Amman to 4,000 people in a Roman theatre (October 2025), COP28 (December 2023) and Expo 2020 Dubai (2021).
Past audiences include the UN Tourism General Assembly, COP28 (December 2023), Expo 2020 Dubai (2021), TEDx Amman (October 2025), the US Army, DHL, Nokia and Durlston Partners.
In the US, Paris has given talks at Surf Break in Honolulu and spoken to US Army soldiers at Fort Shafter, Hawaii.
Speaking across the US, in person or virtually
Available for in-person events across the US, or virtually in your local time zone.
For virtual keynotes, sessions can be scheduled for US morning or afternoon slots across Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific time.
Organizers typically book speakers three to five months ahead in the US, so reach out early to secure your date.
For remote and hybrid teams, the 30–45 minute virtual keynote delivers The Grit Code with expedition footage and live Q&A.
From the organizers
Paris Norriss is a true adventurer and entrepreneur. He came to speak with our Soldiers in Hawaii to tell them stories on his adventures including his most recent, rowing across the Pacific Ocean to Kauai. His story showed our team what the world has to offer, to be resilient and how important teamwork can be especially in times of hardship.
I’ve had the privilege of witnessing Paris Norriss in action as a storyteller, motivator and a true catalyst for transformation. Through his powerful awe-inspiring adventures, he doesn’t just recount tales of endurance and grit, he lives them.
I had the pleasure of working with Paris during TEDxAmman, the largest TEDx event in the MENA region, where he joined us as one of our inspiring speakers. From the very start, he showed professionalism, positivity, and contagious enthusiasm that uplifted everyone around him.
Cities we cover in the USA
Keynote speaker New York · Keynote speaker Los Angeles · Keynote speaker Chicago · Keynote speaker Houston · Keynote speaker Dallas · Keynote speaker Miami · Keynote speaker San Francisco · Keynote speaker Washington, DC · Keynote speaker Boston · Keynote speaker Honolulu · Keynote speaker Phoenix · Keynote speaker Philadelphia · Keynote speaker San Antonio · Keynote speaker San Diego · Keynote speaker Austin · Keynote speaker Seattle · Keynote speaker Atlanta · Keynote speaker Denver · Keynote speaker Las Vegas · Keynote speaker Nashville · Keynote speaker Orlando · Keynote speaker Charlotte · Keynote speaker Minneapolis · Keynote speaker Tampa · Keynote speaker Portland · Keynote speaker New Orleans · Keynote speaker San Jose · Keynote speaker Salt Lake City · Keynote speaker Detroit · Keynote speaker Fort Worth · Keynote speaker Jacksonville · Keynote speaker Columbus · Keynote speaker Indianapolis · Keynote speaker Oklahoma City · Keynote speaker El Paso · Keynote speaker Louisville · Keynote speaker Memphis · Keynote speaker Baltimore · Keynote speaker Milwaukee · Keynote speaker Albuquerque · Keynote speaker Tucson · Keynote speaker Sacramento · Keynote speaker Kansas City · Keynote speaker Raleigh · Keynote speaker Omaha · Keynote speaker Long Beach · Keynote speaker Pittsburgh · Keynote speaker St. Louis · Keynote speaker Fresno · Keynote speaker Mesa · Keynote speaker Colorado Springs · Keynote speaker Virginia Beach · Keynote speaker Oakland · Keynote speaker Bakersfield · Keynote speaker Tulsa · Keynote speaker Aurora
Past events in the USA
- US Army at Fort Shafter: Grit Keynote – September 2025 · Honolulu, Hawaii
Hawaii only: Surf Break and Pearl Harbor
Paris’s only US clients were in Hawaii: Surf Break, and the US military at Pearl Harbor. He has not spoken for clients in other US cities. US city pages on this site are for organisers who want to book him, not a list of past US appearances.
He is available for conferences and company events across the United States in person or virtually, and he presents as CEO of Blazing Sand Studios as well as an adventurer.
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in the US?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences, sales kickoffs and leadership offsites across the United States, in person or virtually.
Has Paris spoken to American audiences before?
Yes. Paris has given talks at Surf Break in Honolulu and spoken to US Army soldiers at Fort Shafter in Hawaii, after his 2023 row across the Pacific Ocean to Kauai.
How far ahead should we book?
Organizers typically book speakers three to five months ahead in the US. Shorter notice is sometimes possible, so it is always worth asking.
How long is The Grit Code keynote?
The flagship keynote runs 45 to 60 minutes including Q&A. Paris also delivers 90-minute to half-day workshops and 30 to 45-minute virtual keynotes.
Can Paris deliver a virtual keynote across US time zones?
Yes. Virtual keynotes are scheduled in your local time zone, with expedition footage and live Q&A.
Can the keynote be customized for our company?
Yes. Every booking starts with a briefing call so the stories and takeaways connect to your theme, your industry and the challenges your people face.
Where in the US has Paris spoken?
Only in Hawaii: for Surf Break, and for the US military at Pearl Harbor. He has not spoken for clients in other US cities.
Bring grit to your next US event
Tell us the date, the city, the audience and what you want them to walk out with. You will get a straight answer on availability and fit. Prefer to talk first? Book a call.
More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · Contact