Grit where the rivers meet
Wuhan sits where the Han River joins the Yangtze and is known as the thoroughfare of nine provinces. Paris brings The Grit Code to its engineers and researchers.
Three towns, one optics valley
Wuhan grew from three towns, Wuchang, Hankou and Hanyang, at the meeting of the Yangtze and the Han. The 1911 Wuchang Uprising began here.
Dongfeng Motor is headquartered in Wuhan, and about 50 French companies have invested here, the most of any Chinese city.
Optics Valley, the East Lake High-Tech Zone, is China’s largest centre for optoelectronics. Wuhan University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology anchor its research.
Who Paris speaks to in Wuhan
Car makers and suppliers
Keynotes for engineering and plant teams.
Optics and fibre companies
Talks on persistence for research teams.
Universities
Sessions for students and faculty.
French and other foreign firms
English-language talks for mixed teams.
Rooms and stages
Wuhan’s conferences are spread across Optics Valley, the university campuses and the riverside hotels in Hankou.
- Optics Valley – the East Lake High-Tech Zone and its company campuses
- Hubei Provincial Museum – in Wuchang, which received nearly 2 million visitors in 2017
- East Lake – 33 km², among the largest lakes inside a Chinese city, ringed by hotels and campuses
Pick the format
Most Wuhan 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 →
Stories with the miles behind them
Seven marathons in under six days
Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami: 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Across the Pacific by rowing boat
A 4,800 km row in 2023 that raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Paris rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific. Watch the film, or see the Chongqing page upriver. 39 days at sea: the Pacific row film · Keynote speaker Chongqing · The Grit Code keynote
On stage or on screen
Available for in-person events in Wuhan, 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.
Talks are delivered in English; an interpreter can be arranged by the organiser where helpful.
See also keynote speaker in China, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Wuhan’s economy and who the talk is for
Wuhan has a population of about 12,326,518 (2020 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Wuhan is the head-office city for organisations such as Dongfeng Motor Corporation (automotive industry) and Dongfeng Motor Group Company Limited (automotive industry).
Automotive (Dongfeng Motor Corporation and Dongfeng Motor Group Company Limited). 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
Wuhan’s universities, including Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law and Wuhan University of Technology, make it a strong market for student, graduate and alumni events. Paris speaks to young audiences about effort, setbacks and choosing hard goals, and to faculty about building resilient teams.
Typical formats include welcome weeks, graduation events, entrepreneurship programmes and alumni dinners. University keynote speaker →
Other large venues in Wuhan
Beyond the main conference halls, Wuhan also has large venues for major events, including Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium.
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 Wuhan 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 Wuhan
In Wuhan, the most common bookings fall into a few groups:
- 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
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
- 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.
- 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 Wuhan?
Yes. He is available for Wuhan conferences, offsites and leadership events, on site or online.
Does Paris speak to automotive and engineering audiences?
Yes. He talks about endurance and decisions under pressure, tailored on a briefing call.
Can Paris speak at a university event in Wuhan?
Yes. He speaks to students, faculty and alumni groups.
Which Wuhan industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Wuhan it suits automotive audiences in particular, along with leadership teams, sales kick-offs and all-hands meetings in any industry.
Does Paris speak at universities in Wuhan?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Wuhan?
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 Wuhan?
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 Wuhan?
Tell us about the room and the date. You can also book a call.