Keynotes in the diamond city
Surat cuts and polishes most of the world’s natural diamonds and is a giant of Indian textiles. Paris brings The Grit Code to its traders, makers and families in business.
Nine in ten of the world’s diamonds
About 90% of the world’s natural diamonds are processed in Surat, according to NITI Aayog, across some 6,000 units with exports of around US$10 billion.
The Surat Diamond Bourse, with 660,000 square metres of floor space, was declared the world’s largest office building by Guinness World Records in August 2023, overtaking the Pentagon.
Surat is also a centre of textiles and silk, and it was ranked India’s second cleanest city in the Swachh Survekshan 2020 survey.
Who Paris speaks to in Surat
Cutting, polishing and trading houses
Keynotes on precision under pressure.
Synthetic fabric and silk
Talks for owners and sales teams.
Next-generation leaders
Sessions on grit, change and succession.
SVNIT and colleges
Talks for students and faculty.
Event venues
Trade associations in Surat hold meetings at the Diamond Bourse and in the city’s hotels; larger gatherings move to the indoor stadium.
- Surat Diamond Bourse – the trading hub near Khajod, the world’s largest office building
- Pandit Dindayal Upadhyay Indoor Stadium – a 6,800-seat indoor arena
- SVNIT – the national institute of technology campus
Ways to book Paris in Surat
The Grit Code keynote (45–60 min) · Grit Deconstruction workshop (90 min to half day) · virtual keynote (30–45 min) · event host and MC. Compare formats →
Tested at sea, on the ice and on stage
7 marathons, 7 continents
Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Rowed the Pacific
4,800 km in 2023, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
Read how The Grit Code is built from endurance, or see the Ahmedabad page. The Grit Code keynote · Keynote speaker Ahmedabad · 39 days at sea: the Pacific row film
Booking for Surat
Available for in-person events in Surat, or virtually in your local time zone.
Organisers typically book speakers about three months ahead, and shorter notice is sometimes possible, so it is worth asking.
Paris presents in English, which is widely used in Indian business. Organisers can add Gujarati or Hindi interpretation if the audience would benefit.
See also keynote speaker in India, or browse all keynote speaker locations.
Surat’s economy and who the talk is for
Surat has a population of about 5,935,000 (2016 figure, Wikidata), which makes it a substantial market for conferences, leadership events and company gatherings.
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 Surat 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.
Where the talk fits in Surat
Organisers in Surat usually book Paris for one of these occasions:
- Kick-off meetings for new financial years, projects or teams.
- Industry association conferences and trade-show main stages.
- Executive retreats that pair the keynote with a Grit Deconstruction workshop.
- Hybrid all-hands meetings with a virtual version for remote staff.
Credentials at a glance
- He is the CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, an AI video production company.
- In 2023 he rowed 4,800 km across the Pacific with three teammates, raising more than £150,000 for marine conservation.
- Past speaking clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly.
- He ran 7 marathons on 7 continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes.
Formats, timing and next steps
Most organisers book a 45–60 minute Grit Code keynote with Q&A. Teams that want to go further add the Grit Deconstruction workshop, which runs from 90 minutes to half a day and turns the talk into habits and commitments the group can use on Monday morning.
A 30–45 minute virtual version is available for remote or hybrid audiences. Paris can also host the full day as MC, which keeps the tone consistent from the opening to the close. He is CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, so the briefing call covers both the audience’s goals and the practical run-of-show.
Past clients include Nokia, DHL, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Expo 2020, COP28 and the UN Tourism General Assembly. His TV shows have been distributed in 123 countries, and Guy in Dubai has 22 million views. The talk 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.
To book, share the date, venue or virtual platform, audience size and the outcome you want. Paris replies with a short outline tailored to your room, then joins a briefing call before the event.
Questions from Surat organisers
Can I book Paris Norriss as a keynote speaker in Surat?
Yes. Organisers in Surat can book him in person or for a virtual session.
Can Paris speak to a diamond or textile trade association?
Yes. He tailors the keynote to traders and manufacturers on a briefing call.
Will the talk be in English?
Yes. Paris speaks in English, and organisers can arrange Gujarati interpretation for mixed audiences.
Is there a workshop option for teams in Surat?
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 Surat?
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.
How far in advance should we book?
Most organisers book between four and twelve weeks ahead. Last-minute bookings are sometimes possible if the date is free, especially for virtual sessions.
Does Paris travel for in-person events?
Yes. He speaks at conferences and company events worldwide, in person or virtually, and shapes each talk around the local audience.
What does the briefing call cover?
Audience profile, the outcome you want, industry language to use or avoid, AV needs, and whether a workshop or MC role is part of the day.
Check a date for Surat
Send the basics and Paris’s team will reply, or book a call.