Grit and resilience keynotes for Israel’s companies and teams
Paris Norriss helps high-growth companies and their teams build the grit to keep performing through setbacks, with an English-language keynote tested at sea, on the ice and on camera.
Innovation needs persistence
Israel’s technology and start-up sector is known for speed, ambition and global reach. Behind every breakthrough are teams that kept going through failed attempts.
Grit, the passion and perseverance to keep working towards a long-term goal, is the quality that turns ideas into products and products into companies.
The Grit Code breaks it into skills that founders, leaders and teams can train.
Conferences and offsites that need to perform
Tech & R&D teams
Resilience for engineering, product and R&D teams in Tel Aviv and beyond.
Founders & scale-ups
Persistence lessons for founders and fast-growing businesses.
Conferences & kick-offs
International conferences and global sales kick-offs.
Leadership offsites
A shared language for pressure and a plan for leading through change.
Talks and formats
The Grit Code
Resilience and high performance for teams building under pressure.
The age of AI needs more grit
In one of the world’s most AI-intensive tech scenes, 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 conferences, panels and award nights.
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 Israel, in person or virtually
Available for in-person events across Israel, 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 global 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 Norriss is a true adventurer and entrepreneur. He came to speak with our Soldiers in Hawaii to tell them stories on his adventures including his most recent, rowing across the Pacific Ocean to Kauai. His story showed our team what the world has to offer, to be resilient and how important teamwork can be especially in times of hardship.
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.
Grit for high-pressure innovation rooms
Israel’s conference calendar mixes technology, defence-adjacent industry, finance and entrepreneurship, with Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as the main stages and strong activity across the country’s tech hubs. Organisers looking for a grit keynote usually want a speaker who understands intensity, iteration and the cost of getting things wrong.
Paris Norriss is a keynote speaker on grit and mindset and CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company. The Grit Code draws 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 that raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation. His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries.
Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly. He speaks in Israel in person or virtually.
Tech, leadership and growth
- Technology and startup all-hands and offsites.
- Leadership and strategy days under change.
- Sales and investor-facing conferences.
- University and accelerator programmes.
Formats: 45–60 minute keynote, 30–45 minute virtual version, optional workshop, or hosting as MC.
How we cover Israel
Book Paris for conferences and company events anywhere in Israel, in person or virtually. For the wider map see keynote speaker locations.
Proof at a glance
- 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
- 2023 Pacific row of 4,800 km.
- TV shows in 123 countries; Guy in Dubai has 22 million views.
- CEO of Blazing Sand Studios.
- Clients including Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and UN Tourism.
FAQ
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Israel?
Yes. Paris speaks at conferences, leadership offsites and kick-offs, in person or virtually.
Is the keynote suitable for tech and start-up audiences?
Yes. The Grit Code focuses on persistence through repeated setbacks, and the briefing call ties it to your company and goals.
Does Paris present in English?
Yes. Paris presents in English, and every talk is tailored in a briefing call for your audience.
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.
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 Israel?
Yes, in person or virtually at conferences and company events.
Is the talk relevant to tech and startup audiences?
Yes. Paris is CEO of an AI video company and often speaks on grit during change and AI adoption.
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.
Bring grit to your next event in Israel
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