Grit and resilience keynotes for Bahrain’s fintech and finance teams
Paris Norriss has lived and worked in the Gulf for 17 years, making TV shows that uncover the culture of the Middle East. He brings The Grit Code to organisations across Bahrain.
Competitive economies run on grit
Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 focuses on sustainability, competitiveness and fairness, with financial services, fintech, tourism and logistics at the centre.
Competing in those sectors takes people who keep improving and keep going through setbacks. The Grit Code turns that capacity into skills teams can train.
And it comes from a speaker who knows the region: Paris has spent the last 17 years working, filming and having adventures across the Gulf, making TV shows such as Guy in Dubai that uncover the culture of the Middle East.
Conferences and offsites that need to perform
Financial services
Resilience for banking, fintech and insurance teams in Manama.
Conferences & kick-offs
Annual conferences and leadership offsites.
Summits & forums
A main-stage story for industry, tourism and sports events.
Universities & young talent
The Grit Generation programme for students.
Talks and formats
The Grit Code
Resilience and high performance for teams competing, and winning, against bigger rivals.
Grit for the AI era
For banks and fintech teams: technology changes fast, and the people who keep adapting win.
Grit Deconstruction workshop
For leadership and sales teams: find the points where performance drops under pressure and plan the fix.
Host / MC / panel
Conference hosting, panel moderation and gala evenings from a seasoned TV presenter.
Why Bahrain audiences believe him
39 days at sea
Rowed from California to Hawaii, 4,800 km, in the World's Toughest Row (2023).
Under six days
Seven marathons on seven continents, from Antarctica to Miami, in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
123 countries
His adventure TV shows reach audiences in 123 countries.
Regional main stages
COP28 at Expo City Dubai (December 2023), Expo 2020 Dubai (2021) and TEDx Amman (October 2025).
Past clients include the UN Tourism General Assembly, DHL, Nokia, Kraft Heinz, IHG and Dubai Airports. In Saudi Arabia he hosted the UN Tourism meeting in Riyadh, filmed in AlUla and hosted shows at the Dakar Rally in Qiddiya.
Based in the Gulf, in person or virtual
Available for in-person events across Bahrain, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book speakers one to two months ahead, so get in touch early to secure your date.
The 30–45 minute virtual keynote suits regional and hybrid teams.
From the organisers
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.
Paris is both captivating and uplifting. We appreciated his open, honest, and heartfelt journey. His raw and genuine account of his pioneering adventure underlines his resilience and grit against any obstacle he faced. His story is highly impactful and we found it inspiring to deliver more passion, energy and a collaborative spirit.
As part of our takeover of the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 we held a number of business sessions and a celebratory event throughout the day. We worked with Paris on this to be our keynote speaker, who was extremely professional and easy to deal with. He managed to change his tone to the appropriate audiences with laughs had by all. A pleasure to work with.
Cities we cover in Bahrain
Keynote speaker Manama · Keynote speaker Muharraq · Keynote speaker Riffa · Keynote speaker Sakhir
Bahrain: a small island with big ambitions
Bahrain punches far above its size. It was one of the first Gulf states to build a modern banking sector, and today it is known for financial services, fintech, aluminium, logistics and a calendar of international events, from motorsport at the Bahrain International Circuit to major exhibitions.
Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 sets out to move the country from an economy built on oil wealth to a productive, globally competitive one, with Bahraini talent at its centre. That shift asks teams to keep learning and keep performing through change, which is the heart of The Grit Code.
Paris brings stories from places where giving up would have been the easy option: 39 days rowing an open ocean, a 4,800 km crossing of the Pacific, and seven marathons on seven continents in less than six days. He links each story to a practical habit that leaders and teams can use the next morning.
Events in Bahrain are often held at Exhibition World Bahrain in Sakhir, the Bahrain International Circuit and the hotels of Manama and the Bahrain Bay area. Financial institutions and government entities typically schedule their main events around the cooler months and the Ramadan calendar.
Grit for a competitive economy
Bahrain's businesses compete with much larger neighbours by being quicker, more specialised and more open. That needs teams who can absorb setbacks and still deliver, which is what The Grit Code is about.
Paris has worked in the Gulf for 17 years, as the presenter of Guy in Dubai and as CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, and has hosted and spoken at major regional events including COP28 and Expo 2020 Dubai. He can deliver a keynote, a Grit Deconstruction workshop for a leadership team, or host a full conference programme.
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Bahrain?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences, leadership offsites and government events in Bahrain, in person or virtually.
Does Paris understand the region?
Yes. Paris has lived and worked in the Gulf for 17 years, making TV shows such as Guy in Dubai that uncover the culture of the Middle East. He knows the culture and audiences of the Gulf first-hand.
Is the keynote relevant to Bahrain Economic Vision 2030?
Yes. The Grit Code focuses on competitiveness through persistence, and the briefing call ties it to your organisation's goals.
Does Paris present in Arabic?
Paris presents in English. Every talk is tailored in a briefing call so it works for multinational and local teams alike.
How far ahead should we book?
Organisers typically book speakers one to two months ahead. 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.
Does Paris speak to financial services and fintech audiences in Bahrain?
Yes. The Grit Code works well for banks, fintech teams and investment firms working through regulatory, technology and market change.
Can Paris host or MC a Bahrain event?
Yes. As a TV presenter he also hosts conferences, panels and gala evenings across the Gulf.
Bring grit to your next event in Bahrain
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