On September 15th, 2026, ten speakers will take the stage at Lula Lounge in Toronto for Reinvention, a powerful night exploring what happens when we choose to rewrite the story we’ve been living.
These are the voices that refused to stay stuck in a version of themselves that no longer fit. The ones who faced change, embraced uncertainty, and found the courage to begin again.
Each story captures a turning point: leaving something behind, stepping into the unknown, and discovering that reinvention isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about becoming more of who you were meant to be.
The winner will receive a prize package valued at up to $10,000, including $2,000 cash, along with a coveted spot at the 2026 Grand Slam: Inspirational Speaking Finals.
Teresa Vozza
Executive Leadership Coach and Author | Toronto, Canada
Teresa Vozza is a former Fortune 500 CHRO, executive coach, and founder of Crucible Leadership. She has spent over 20 years working with CEOs, CHROs, and senior executive leaders on the part of leadership that most development programs never touch - the 70% that is psychology, not skill. She is a certified HeartMath Institute trainer, a contributor to Fast Company, and the creator of the Crucible Executive Advisory for Women, a highly curated peer coaching group for VP-level leaders navigating high-stakes transitions. Her book, Little Kid in a Power Suit, publishes March 27, 2027. It is the most honest thing she has ever written - about how the stories we formed as children quietly drive every high-stakes decision we make as adults. Teresa speaks from the inside out. She has sat in the rooms she talks about, coached the women trying to get into them, and knows what it actually costs to lead at the top.
Liz Doyle Harmer
Work Success Coach, Self-Leadership Strategist, Embodied Intelligence SpeakerScarborough, Canada
Liz Doyle Harmer helps impact-driven leaders clarify the work that matters and become the person who can achieve it - faster, and without burning out to get there. She holds a PCC from the ICF, an MBA from McGill, and has coached leaders at Google, JP Morgan, Johnson & Johnson, and Netflix.
Niamani Williams
Social Justice Advocate, Community Leader, Transformation Storyteller, Public Administration Professional | Arizona, USA
Niamani Williams is a social justice advocate, resilience speaker, and public administration leader dedicated to transforming lived experiences into meaningful change. As a second-generation American with roots in Guyana and Panama, Niamani’s journey has been shaped by culture, resilience, identity, and the belief that every person deserves the opportunity to thrive. Niamani’s story is one of reinvention. After experiencing significant challenges during her early life, including instability, educational disruption, and moments when her future felt uncertain, she discovered the power of opportunity, mentorship, and education. A simple act of encouragement from a stranger helped inspire her to earn her GED and begin a transformative educational journey. Through determination and purpose, Niamani went on to earn degrees in Political Science and Social Justice & Human Rights and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration, focusing on ethical leadership, equity, and community impact. Today, Niamani uses her voice to advocate for communities, inspire others navigating their own journeys of transformation, and remind audiences that their circumstances do not define their potential. Her message is rooted in resilience, belonging, and the power of reinvention. Niamani believes that our stories are not just reflections of where we have been; they are blueprints for the change we are capable of creating.
Grace Riza Ti Kieng
Entrepreneur | Scarborough, Canada
Grace is a multifaceted Filipino-Chinese artist, emerging abstract painter, healthcare professional, and entrepreneur whose journey is rooted in resilience, creativity, and advocacy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Grace discovered painting as a therapeutic outlet while navigating fibromyalgia and PTSD. What began as a personal form of healing evolved into a powerful creative expression and a platform for health advocacy, helping raise awareness about invisible disabilities and the realities faced by those who live with them. Beyond her career in healthcare, Grace has ventured into entrepreneurship, promoting self-care, wellness, and confidence within her community. Through her art, advocacy, and entrepreneurial journey, she hopes to remind others that their challenges do not define their potential. As a single parent herself, Grace is especially passionate about inspiring other single parents to embrace their strength, prioritize their well-being, and pursue their dreams—no matter how unexpected the journey may be. Her message is simple: You may not be able to choose every challenge life brings, but you can choose how you rise, reinvent, and shine.
Damali Austin
Clinician, Lived-Experience Expert & People Transformation Strategist | Toronto, Canada
Damali Austin is an Advanced Practice Nurse, Nurse Clinician, and the Founder of Evolved Becoming. With over 17 years of experience in health and wellness, human psychology, and behavioural change, she has sat with people in their most vulnerable states at every stage of life. Through those clinical experiences, she observed a recurring theme: the pain of a life lived unfulfilled and the heavy tension that accompanies uncertainty. She has also navigated this terrain firsthand, experiencing the deep cognitive load of career and life transitions. She deeply understands the quiet weight of uncertainty and the gap between current reality and future potential. Recognizing that navigating these profound life shifts requires more than generic motivation, she leaned into her clinical expertise. Driven to provide a structured, evidence-based path to bridge the gap between that internal struggle and tangible change, she brought together neuroscience, nursing science, and behavioural psychology to create The Human Transformation System™. This proprietary methodology helps individuals deconstruct the dread of disruption, navigate complex transitions, identify capacity gaps, and build a reimagined future. Her mission is to empower individuals to reclaim the courage to engineer their next chapter with purpose, confidence, and strategy. She believes true reinvention isn't about burning everything to the ground; rather, it is about designing change in a way that a person's mind, body, identity, and real life can actually sustain.
Katherine Scott
Realtor®️, Entrepreneur, Former First Responder | Kemptville, Canada
Katherine Scott is an award-winning REALTOR® with RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Group and a former paramedic whose career has been defined by navigating high-stakes moments with clarity, confidence, and compassion. After leaving a career in paramedicine, Katherine built a successful real estate business from the ground up, quickly establishing herself as one of the top-producing agents within her brokerage. Her approach combines strategic thinking, strong communication, and an unwavering commitment to the people she represents. Katherine’s journey from emergency services to entrepreneurship has shaped her perspective on risk, reinvention, and the decisions that change the direction of our lives. Whether negotiating on behalf of a client or stepping onto a stage, she believes that meaningful growth often begins with having the courage to make a move before you feel completely ready.
Carol-Anne Schneider
Real Estate Broker, Life Coach, Reiki Grand Master Warrior, Board Certified Integrative Neurosomatic Practitioner | Oakville, Canada
Over three decades spent serving clients helping them find their way home, and businesses, mentoring teams, and driving growth across the Canadian real estate market. Experience spans market expansion, operations leadership, business development, and team building — with a strong focus on scaling performance in competitive and evolving environments. While my career started in real estate, it quickly evolved into something bigger — leading people, growing organizations, and building systems that support long-term success. Oversaw operations, compliance, recruitment, and performance management while also driving strategic initiatives to expand market presence and improve overall business results. More than 1,000 clients served, alongside mentoring professionals at every stage — from new agents to top performers — helping them grow, adapt, and succeed in dynamic markets. This past January I launched my own coaching business I am the founder of Simpson Laird & Co. limited. I focus on coaching individuals and professionals through leadership, growth, and transition. This work deepens the ability to understand people, navigate change, and lead with clarity and empathy. Creator of the signature “Moonshot Map” goal-setting system, helping entrepreneurs scale and expand their businesses with intention.
Debbie Bairos
Project Manager, PMP, Inspiration Strategist, Change Maker | Newmarket, Canada
Debbie Bairos is a Project Management leader, recognition strategist, and emerging inspirational speaker passionate about helping people understand the profound impact of feeling valued, seen, and recognized—both in the workplace and in their own lives. Drawing on her personal journey and professional experience, Debbie inspires audiences to embrace their self-worth, recognize their value, and rediscover the power of feeling truly seen and valued.
Japji Anna Bas
Regenerative Leadership Advisor, Wellbeing Systems Scholar, Systems Change Speaker | Toronto, Canada
Dr. Japji Anna Bas, PCC, is a Regenerative Leadership Advisor, Wellbeing Systems Scholar, and Systems Change Speaker whose work centers The Revolution Within: the inner recalibration required for system-shifting impact. A scholar of wellbeing and social environments, she holds a PhD from York University and has served for nearly a decade as a peer reviewer for Social Indicators Research, the leading journal in the field. Her research and strategic insights have supported policy conversations at national and global levels, from the UN Standing Committee on Nutrition to Canada's Ministry of Social Development. She has contributed to initiatives in early learning, food systems, trauma resilience, and Ontario's anti-human-trafficking strategy, translating complex evidence into grounded pathways for change. As the Founder & CEO of Flourish Energy Inc, she works with high-responsibility leaders navigating heavy workloads, complex histories, and a deep commitment to the world we all deserve. Her approach blends nervous-system science, qualitative research, and practical strategy to help leaders build capacity, prevent burnout, and lead in a way that is both humane and effective. Her perspective is shaped by scholarship, practice, and lived experience, including a long, hard-won journey through early trauma and a recent cancer battle. She knows firsthand what it actually takes to lead through complexity, and that integration gives her an uncommon ability to guide leaders toward clarity, steadiness, and deeply meaningful impact.
Wilfred Lun
Resilience Speaker, Coach, Senior Finance Manager | Toronto, Canada
Wilfred is a fighter, a thinker, and a leader who rebuilt his life after becoming an above‑knee amputee. He knows what it means to face a moment that changes everything — and to rise anyway. His message is simple: adversity doesn’t define you; your response does. Through discipline, humour, and an unshakeable commitment to his family, Wilfred transformed pain into purpose. Today, he shares his journey to empower others to reclaim their strength, rewrite their story, and step boldly into the life they deserve.