Every Speaker Slam® competition brings a new lineup of voices to the stage. On November 28, 2020 at Livestreamed, 14 speakers competed on the theme of Freedom, the year-end finals, for the title of Inspirational Speaker of the Year.
Meet the speakers below. See how the night ended in the results.
Merlyna Valentine
#1 Inspirational Speaker of the Year, 2020
Merlyna Valentine is an international speaker, author, and consultant. She was a well-respected educator for over thirty years. Ms. Valentine overcame a medical tragedy after being given a less than 10% chance of surviving sepsis and became a quadruple amputee. In the face of daunting obstacles, she unleashed a remarkable inner strength that enabled her to lead by example. Ms. Valentine inspires audiences to embrace change, persevere tough times, and live life to the fullest.
Sophie Sabbage
#2 Inspirational Speaker of the Year, 2020
Sophie has worked in the field of human and corporate transformation for twenty-five years. B.C. (before cancer) she led an award-winning consultancy while delivering courses for a global educational charity. She has written two Sunday Times bestsellers and is well-known in the UK as a patient activist. In all her work, including loving her husband and daughter, she is dedicated to the authenticity and creativity of the human spirit.
Peter Hernandez
#3 Inspirational Speaker of the Year, 2020
Peter prides himself on being a father, husband, & friend. He's driven by making a difference at home, the community & the world. For him there's no greater gift than human connection. Public Speaking is a way to tap into that connection. He's a Toastmaster, Rotarian, 100 Men of Oshawa, runner and loves Rock 'n Roll. He's supported Speaker Slam since its inception & has participated in Passion Speed Share at the Grand Slam 2019.
Cheryl Murray
Wisdom Life Coach, Career Counsellor, Entrepreneur, Speaker
I am the wisdom whisperer life coach, award-winning speaker, and career counselor. I am a pragmatic coach. In my 20 years career in Social Services, I have racked up over 15,000 expert hours of coaching, mentoring, counseling, and supporting individuals of all diversity. Which permanently altering their life trajectory throughout the GTA. My life’s purpose and commitment are to provide excellent service for all as I continue my growth. #WeeSeeYou
Sandra Elia
Entrepreneur, Award-winning Motivational Speaker
Sandra Elia is a Certified Food Addiction Counselor. She runs Ontario's outpatient Food Addiction Recovery Program and co-created Canada's first residential treatment program. Sandra is a Coaches Training Institute (CTI) Certified Professional Coach, and Director of Obesity Action (Non-Profit Charity). Sandra is dedicated to changing the conversation for obesity so that anyone living with obesity has access to treatment that is steeped with dignity, respect, and understanding.
Ingrid Palmer
Changemaker, Storyteller & Advocate
Ingrid Palmer is the founder of Focus On Ability; a motivational consulting campaign on a mission to help more people redefine their life and achieve their life and business goals despite their personal history. Led by Ingrid Palmer, Focus On Ability delivers powerful and insightful sessions to a wide array of audiences. Ingrid’s facilitations are designed to help individuals shift to action, so their past does not determine their future.
Kennedy Ifeh
Entrepreneur, Writer & Activist
Kennedy Ifeh left a career in ICT to venture into entrepreneurship. He is the founder of Gift of Freedom, Buybox Express, among others. Through reading, writing and speaking, he is working to build a world in which the vast majority of us are agents of freedom. He seeks to inspire people to be free by first seeking knowledge as pursuit of truth, then conquering the self and impacting the word through truth, love and service.
Karen Porter
Holistic Nutritionist & Wellness Coach, Speaker, Author
For 30 years, Karen battled IBS, anxiety and debilitating bouts of depression that left her hospitalized and grasping for her life. She had to take her health into her own hands. Today, as a Holistic Nutritionist and Wellness Coach, Karen is passionate about helping women over 45 to regain their energy, feel great in their bodies and love their life! Karen shows them how to create and crave delicious healthy food, and make lifestyle tweaks.
Merav Richter
Author, Mentor & Performer
Merav Richter is a renaissance woman. After her first career traveling the world, she decided to switch gears to her true love - telling stories. Since publishing three award-winning books, the most recent with her 9-year-old daughter, she now mentors Speakers, Coaches, and other rebels to write, publish and profit from their best-selling books, without breaking their spirits or their banks. Merav enjoys finding fresh and funny ways to embrace all of life's "turbulent" moments.
Heather Chauvin
Author, Coach & Speaker
Heather Chauvin is a leadership coach who helps ambitious, overwhelmed women conquer their fears and become leaders at work and home. Drawing from her professional experience as a social worker and her life experience raising three boys, Heather created a signature approach to help her clients create and enjoy sustainability, profitability and ease in business and life. She is the host of the Mom Is In Control Podcast where she reveals her most vulnerable truths about womanhood, marriage, parenting, living through stage 4 cancer and running a successful business without burning out. She is releasing her first book in 2021. When Heather isn’t busy driving her boys to hockey practice, you can find her curled up on the couch next to her husband, planning their next family adventure.
Ashley Wong
Reader, Optimist, Unemployed High School Student
Ashley is a 15 year old girl who loves Lord of the Rings, K-pop and her bunnies. She would love to list a whole bunch of business accomplishments but, seeing as she can’t, she’s pretty proud of being the youngest person to win a Speaker Slam Event! Ashley would love to add to her list of achievements by learning to speak Korean fluently, marching at a protest and figuring out how to drive.
Adonis Rosalle
Speaker, Storyteller & Entrepreneur
Adonis Rosalle is a Speaker, Storyteller and straight up noisemaker. Using his gift of speech Adonis has committed his life to giving others light through his presentations Adonis has the goods and he's got a lot to say!
Celeste Frenette
Soul Alignment Coach, Mentor, Writer
Celeste Frenette is a Soul Alignment Coach and Business Mentor. She began her work in the world as a Registered Nurse and went on to become a Naturopathic Doctor. After working with thousands of clients, she found the deepest root of wellness to be soul alignment. In 2014, she stepped away from her private practice to expand globally. Featured in Elephant Journal, Huffington Post and Thrive Global, Celeste is a published author and inspirational speaker.
Christine Laperriere
Thought Leader, Speaker, Author, Coach
Christine Laperriere is the president of Leader In Motion, the Executive Director of the Women of Influence Advancement Centre, and the Amazon #1 Bestselling author of "Too Busy to Be Happy, Using Emotional Real Estate to Grow Your Work-Life Wisdom." Each year she coaches 100 leaders to grow their influence, advance their careers, and reduce their stress levels. Christine holds an undergraduate and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering, certifications in psychotherapy & executive coaching.