Nokia: grit, change management and adapting to the unknown

The event

In October 2025, Paris Norriss delivered The Grit Code to a Nokia audience in Dubai. He was invited by Rima Manna, Vice President NI Middle East and UAE Country Director at Nokia.

Paris came away struck by how closely the themes of the keynote matched the challenges of change management. “What a great session with Nokia,” he wrote, “and such strong parallels between what I talk about with Grit, and change management.”

What Paris spoke about

For this session, Paris drilled deeper into one principle of The Grit Code: “planning meticulously, but adapting” when facing unfamiliar environments. It is a lesson drawn from expeditions where the plan is essential, yet conditions change by the hour.

In a large organisation going through change, the same tension applies. Teams need a clear plan, but they also need the confidence to adapt when reality does not follow it. That is where grit comes in: the ability to keep moving forward while the ground shifts.

Afterwards, Paris thanked Nesreen El-Khodary for her kind words and said he was glad the keynote “hit the spot”.

What the organiser said

Rima Manna later wrote: “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.”

Highlights

• The Grit Code keynote for Nokia in Dubai.
• A deep dive on “planning meticulously, but adapting” and how it applies to change management.
• Tailored to an organisation working through change.

About The Grit Code keynote

The Grit Code is built on real stories from extreme environments. Paris rowed 4,800km across the Pacific Ocean in 2023 with the Brothers N Oars crew, a row that raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation. He also ran seven marathons on seven continents in 5 days, 21 hours and 51 minutes, in Antarctica, Cape Town, Perth, Dubai, Madrid, Fortaleza and Miami.

From those experiences he draws practical lessons on purpose, vision, limiting beliefs, adapting a plan and keeping a clear head under pressure. He has delivered the keynote for audiences including the UN Tourism General Assembly, TEDx Amman, COP28, Expo 2020, DHL, Nokia, Kraft Heinz, IHG, Dubai Airports, Durlston Partners in London and Surfbreak in Honolulu. Every talk starts with a briefing call, so the stories connect to your theme, your industry and the challenges your people are facing right now.

“What a great session with Nokia and such strong parallels between what I talk about with Grit, and change management.”
— Paris Norriss on LinkedIn

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Want Paris for your own conference or leadership event? Read more about The Grit Code, see more past speaking events or send an enquiry. Planning an event in the region? See Paris as a keynote speaker in the UAE.