The event
In September 2025, Paris Norriss delivered The Grit Code in Dubai to a group of entrepreneurs from the OPUS community, “a room full of battle-tested entrepreneurs”, as he put it. He thanked Pascaline Millar for organising the event.
What Paris spoke about
Paris challenged a popular myth: that one great idea is the key to entrepreneurial success. In his experience, an idea is worth very little on its own. It is a starting point at best, and it develops over time.
During that time come the struggles: getting people to take you seriously, bad hires and the firings that follow, cash-flow problems, and outside forces that knock your legs out from under you. The entrepreneurs who survive that gauntlet don’t have better ideas. They have something far more valuable: relentless grit.
“If you want to see pure, unfiltered grit in action, watch someone build a business from nothing,” Paris wrote. “It’s not pretty, but it’s powerful.”
Highlights
- The Grit Code for the OPUS entrepreneurs community in Dubai.
- Message: ideas are a starting point, grit is what gets a business through.
- The closing question: when everything falls apart, how badly do you want to keep going?
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.
“When everything falls apart (and it will), how badly do you want to keep going?”
— Paris Norriss on LinkedIn
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.
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