Paris Norriss
Keynote speaker on grit and resilience | Creator of The Grit Code | Adventurer & TV host
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Paris Norriss is a keynote speaker on grit, resilience and high performance, and the creator of The Grit Code: a practical framework that shows leaders and teams how grit is built, not inherited.
His material comes from the field. In 2023 he and three teammates rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific Ocean from California to Hawaii, unsupported, through 40-foot waves and a near miss with a cargo ship. In 2025 he completed the World Marathon Challenge: 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
He is also a TV host and producer. His adventure series, including Guy in Dubai (22 million views) and Guy in the Sky, are distributed in 123 countries. He founded the production company Blazing Sand Studios.
Paris has spoken for the US Army, DHL, Nokia, Dubai Airports, COP28, Expo 2020 and the UN Tourism General Assembly, and at TEDx Amman to 4,000 people in a 2,000-year-old Roman theatre. He is writing a book, The Grit Code. A University of Edinburgh graduate based in the UAE, he speaks in person and virtually worldwide.
The Grit Code
Resilience in most organisations holds up while conditions are manageable and breaks when they aren't. The Grit Code uses the Pacific crossing, 7 marathons in under 6 days and adventure TV production to break grit into parts teams can train: a clear long-term vision tied to purpose, meticulous preparation with the ability to adapt, deliberate positive thinking, surrounding yourself with gritty people, and getting comfortable in the unfamiliar.
Takeaways: decision-making under pressure; teams that hold when plans break; problem-solving and pivoting instead of dwelling on setbacks; sustained focus and performance in high-stakes periods.
Formats: keynote 45-60 min incl. Q&A; workshop 90 min to half day; virtual keynote 30-45 min; host/MC.
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