A keynote for university students on grit, adventure and building a career
University students are about to make some of the biggest decisions of their lives, often without a clear map. Paris Norriss, keynote speaker on grit and mindset and CEO of Blazing Sand Studios, gives them a story and a method for those decisions. He has rowed 4,800km across the Pacific, run seven marathons on seven continents and built a business from scratch in the UAE. He shows students that grit, more than talent or a perfect plan, is what turns ambition into a career.
Where Paris has spoken to students
- Edinburgh University. Paris studied at Edinburgh University from 2004 to 2008, graduating with an MA (Hons) in Business Studies, and has returned to speak there.
- Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. A talk for students at the Abu Dhabi campus of one of the world's best-known universities.
- Caucasus University, Georgia (September 2026). Part of a week of keynotes in Georgia for GITA and Startupbootcamp. "The future is in good hands," Paris wrote afterwards.
- TEDx Amman (October 2025). Around 4,000 people, overwhelmingly young people and students, filled the 2,000-year-old Roman Theatre in Amman. Afterwards the students surrounded him, "curious, warm, full of questions and ideas".
What students take away
- You do not need to be the most talented person in the room. Paris won a scholarship to Millfield School, competed as a decathlete and was captain of the Somerset County Athletics Association. The decathlon rewards consistency across ten events rather than brilliance in one, and that idea runs through his whole story.
- Plans change, and that is fine. The Brothers N Oars crew had never rowed an ocean, and had barely rowed at all, when they decided to row the Pacific. Only 82 of 122 crews had ever completed the crossing. They learned by doing, and adapted when the ocean rewrote their plan.
- Careers are built, not found. After Edinburgh, Paris worked briefly in the City of London before moving to Dubai about 17 years ago, because he bought into the city's long-term vision. He arrived with a business plan and an investor, at a time when there was no start-up ecosystem to speak of.
- Purpose keeps you going. The Pacific row raised more than £150,000 for marine conservation. When motivation ran out, purpose did the work.
A message about learning itself
At TEDx Amman, part of TED's Global Ideas Search, Paris's idea was simple: change how we think about learning, so that we develop the mindsets that create leaders with unbreakable grit and resilience. For universities, that message lands well with students at orientation, during exam season, at careers fairs and at graduation.
Formats for universities
- Keynote (45–60 minutes) for orientation weeks, student conferences, careers fairs and graduation events.
- Entrepreneurship talks and workshops for business schools, incubators and student societies.
- Q&A sessions, where students can ask about adventure, fear, preparation and building a business.
- Virtual talks (30–45 minutes) for students on several campuses.
For younger audiences, Paris runs The Grit Generation, his programme for schools that builds grit, a growth mindset and entrepreneurial thinking.
Grit as a learnable skill
University audiences are sharp and sceptical of empty motivation. Paris treats grit as something people practise: how you set a hard goal, how you respond when the plan breaks, and how you look after the people beside you. He uses film from the 7 marathons on 7 continents and from the 2023 Pacific row of 4,800 km so the ideas are concrete.
He studied at Edinburgh University, specialising in finance, and is CEO of Blazing Sand Studios. That mix of campus, business and expedition experience means the talk lands with students, graduates and faculty alike.
Welcome weeks to alumni dinners
- Freshers and welcome-week keynotes.
- Graduation and awards ceremonies.
- Entrepreneurship and careers programmes.
- Faculty and staff development days.
- Alumni dinners and fundraising events.
Past speaking 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.
Briefing with student life and faculty
Paris briefs with student unions, careers teams or faculty organisers on the audience mix and the outcome you want. He can speak, host as MC, or moderate a panel. A workshop version suits smaller leadership or entrepreneurship cohorts.
Universities Paris has spoken for
- University of Wollongong in Dubai. A campus talk for students and faculty.
- Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. A talk for students at the Abu Dhabi campus.
- Queen’s University (Ontario). Talks for the Canadian university audience.
- Caucasus University (Tbilisi, Georgia). Part of his Georgia keynote week.
He also studied at Edinburgh University, specialising in finance, and is CEO of Blazing Sand Studios.
FAQ
Which universities has Paris spoken at?
University of Wollongong in Dubai, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, Queen’s University in Ontario, and Caucasus University in Tbilisi.
What did Paris study?
He graduated from Edinburgh University in 2008 with an MA (Hons) in Business Studies.
Is the talk suitable for business school students?
Yes. Paris is CEO of Blazing Sand Studios and has spent his working life building ventures, so he can focus on entrepreneurship and careers.
Can he speak at a graduation or orientation event?
Yes. The keynote can be shaped for orientation, careers events, student conferences or graduation.
Does he speak to schools as well?
Yes, through The Grit Generation, his programme for schools.
Is the talk suitable for undergraduates?
Yes. It is often booked for welcome weeks, careers programmes and entrepreneurship events.
Does Paris speak at graduations?
Yes. Graduation and awards ceremonies are common bookings.
Can faculty book a staff development version?
Yes. The same grit habits apply to research groups and professional services teams.
Is a workshop available for student cohorts?
Yes. The Grit Deconstruction workshop runs from 90 minutes to half a day.
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
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More about Paris: About · The Grit Code · Contact