Grit and resilience keynotes for India’s leaders and teams
India’s organisations are growing faster than almost anywhere on earth. Paris Norriss gives leaders and teams the grit to sustain that pace without burning out.
Fast growth needs staying power
India’s economy, tech sector and start-up ecosystem are scaling at remarkable speed, and so are the expectations on the people driving them.
Grit, the passion and perseverance to keep working towards a long-term goal, is what keeps teams performing when targets rise and setbacks hit.
The Grit Code turns grit into a framework and practical tools leaders can use across large, diverse teams.
Conferences and offsites that need to perform
IT & services leadership
Resilience for technology, services and global capability centre teams in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune.
Conferences & kick-offs
Annual conferences and sales kick-offs in Mumbai, Delhi and beyond.
Founders & scale-ups
Persistence lessons for founders and fast-growing businesses.
Schools & universities
The Grit Generation programme for students and young people.
Talks and formats
The Grit Code
Resilience and high performance for teams growing at speed.
The age of AI needs more grit
With India at the centre of global tech and AI services, the human edge is the will 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 TV presenter to host summits, award nights and leadership forums.
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.
International clients include DHL, Nokia, IHG, Kraft Heinz and Durlston Partners, and Paris has spoken to US Army soldiers in Hawaii.
Speaking in India, in person or virtually
Available for in-person events across India, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book speakers about three months ahead, so get in touch early to secure your date.
The 30–45 minute virtual keynote suits teams spread across Indian cities.
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.
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.
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.
Grit for India’s conference cities
India hosts one of the world’s densest calendars of corporate, technology and association events, from Delhi and Mumbai to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Surat. Organisers looking for a grit and resilience keynote want a speaker who can hold large rooms and still leave managers with language they can reuse.
Paris Norriss is a keynote speaker on grit and mindset and CEO of Blazing Sand Studios. The Grit Code is built on the 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, and on the 2023 Pacific row of 4,800 km. His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries.
Past clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly. He speaks across India in person or virtually.
IT, industry, finance and campus
- Technology, IT services and product companies, including AI programmes.
- Banking, finance and professional services conferences.
- Manufacturing, automotive and industrial leadership events.
- University, B-school and entrepreneurship programmes.
Formats: 45–60 minute keynote, virtual version, Grit Deconstruction workshop, or hosting as MC.
Built for busy Indian agendas
Paris holds a briefing call, shapes examples to the sector, and delivers with film from his expeditions and TV work. As CEO of Blazing Sand Studios he links grit to commercial pressure, not only to adventure.
Available in India, not a past-talk list
Paris has not given keynote talks in Asia. Pages for Asian cities and countries are for organisers who want to book him in person or virtually. The exception in the region is Pakistan, where in 2024 he filmed a 14-day trek up the Baltoro Glacier to K2 base camp while supporting his good friend Maria Conceição.
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in India?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences, leadership offsites and kick-offs in India, in person or virtually.
Can virtual sessions run in our local time zone?
Yes. Virtual keynotes are scheduled in your local time zone, with expedition footage and live Q&A.
Does Paris present in English?
Yes. Paris presents in English, and every talk is tailored in a briefing call for your audience.
Is the keynote suitable for technology and services teams?
Yes. The briefing call ties The Grit Code to your sector, targets and the pressures your people face.
How far ahead should we book?
Organisers typically book speakers about three 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 in India?
Yes, in person or virtually across India’s main conference cities.
Which Indian cities have dedicated pages?
Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Surat.
Is a workshop available?
Yes. The Grit Deconstruction workshop runs from 90 minutes to half a day.
Can the keynote be virtual?
Yes. A 30–45 minute virtual version is available.
Who has Paris spoken for?
Past clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
Has Paris spoken in India?
No. He has not given keynote talks in India or elsewhere in Asia. This page is for organisers who want to book him.
Bring grit to your next event in India
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