Grit keynotes for Barcelona congresses and tech
Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, hosts Mobile World Congress every year. Paris brings The Grit Code to its congresses and companies.
Congress capital
Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia. Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via site hosts MWC, one of the world’s biggest technology events.
Paris ran one of his 7 marathons in Madrid, part of 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
He has spoken for multinationals including DHL, Nokia, Kraft Heinz and IHG.
Who Paris speaks to in Barcelona
Tech and telecoms
Keynotes for product teams.
European meetings
Sessions for regional leaders.
Hospitality
Talks for the visitor economy.
Sport
Endurance stories.
Event venues
Fira de Barcelona and the CCIB host international congresses.
- Fira Gran Via – in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat
- CCIB – on the Diagonal Mar waterfront
Ways to book Paris in Barcelona
Choose the flagship Grit Code keynote (45–60 min), a Grit Deconstruction workshop (90 min to half day), a 30–45 min virtual keynote, or Paris as host and MC for the day. 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.
See the Madrid page. Keynote speaker Madrid · Nokia grit and change recap
Booking for Barcelona
Available for in-person events in Barcelona, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book speakers about three months ahead, so get in touch early to secure your date.
Paris presents in English. Organisers can arrange Spanish or Catalan interpretation if the audience would benefit.
See also keynote speaker in Europe, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Barcelona’s economy and who the talk is for
Barcelona has a population of about 1,731,649 (2025 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
Barcelona is the head-office city for organisations such as Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (public transport), Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (public transport), Desigual (textile industry), Almirall (pharmaceutical industry), Filmin (film industry) and eDreams (tourism).
Manufacturing and engineering (Desigual, Almirall and Filmin). For industrial and engineering businesses, Paris’s message is that resilience is built, not born. Safety days, operations conferences and leadership offsites are typical bookings.
Aviation, transport and logistics (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya and Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona). Aviation, transport and logistics teams work around the clock and against the clock. Paris has spoken for DHL and Dubai Airports, and his record-breaking marathon challenge, run to a tight timetable across seven continents, is a natural fit for operations audiences.
Hospitality and tourism (eDreams). Hospitality and tourism teams sit close to Paris’s own story. He has spoken at the UN Tourism General Assembly and for IHG, and was a brand ambassador for Paramount Hotel and Rove Hotel.
Students, graduates and faculty
Barcelona’s universities, including Open University of Catalonia and EU Business School, 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 Barcelona
For bigger audiences and set-piece events, Barcelona venues include Institut Nacional d'Educació Física de Catalunya.
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
- 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 Barcelona 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.
Credentials at a glance
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
- His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Questions from Barcelona organisers
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Barcelona?
Yes. Organisers in Barcelona can book him in person or for a virtual session.
Does Paris present in Spanish?
He presents in English; interpretation can be arranged.
Which Barcelona industries is The Grit Code suited to?
The keynote is tailored to each sector. In Barcelona it suits manufacturing and engineering, aviation, transport and logistics and hospitality and tourism audiences in particular, along with leadership teams, sales kick-offs and all-hands meetings in any industry.
Does Paris speak at universities in Barcelona?
Yes. He speaks to students, graduates and staff, for example at institutions such as Open University of Catalonia and EU Business School, on grit as a learnable skill.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Barcelona?
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 Barcelona?
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 Barcelona
Send the basics and Paris’s team will reply, or book a call.