Speaker Slam®'s 10th Annual Grand Slam: Inspirational Speaking Finals

On November 21st, 2026, Speaker Slam® will host its 10th Annual Grand Slam: Inspirational Speaking Finals at the CBC Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto.

This is the biggest night of the Speaker Slam® season, bringing together the top 13 speakers of 2026 for one unforgettable evening of powerful storytelling, transformation and inspiration.

This year, they will take the stage under one defining theme:

Catalyst

A catalyst is the moment, person, decision or experience that changes everything.

Sometimes it arrives unexpectedly. Sometimes it comes through loss, failure, courage, opportunity or a single choice. And sometimes, we become the catalyst ourselves.

This year's Grand Slam explores the turning points that set transformation in motion — the moments that challenged our direction, shifted our perspective and ultimately changed what came next.

Thirteen speakers. Thirteen stories. Thirteen moments that sparked change.

The Road to the Grand Slam

Throughout 2026, Speaker Slam®, North America's largest inspirational speaking competition, brought powerful voices to the stage through a season of live competitions, each centered around a different theme.

From every competition, the strongest speakers advanced, with additional finalists earning their place through the Wild Card Race.

Now, the final 13 speakers will come together on one stage to compete for the prestigious title of Inspirational Speaker of the Year.

At stake is a $5,000 cash prize and a prize package worth up to $50,000, including media opportunities, professional development and a book deal with sponsor partner Lucky Book Publishing.

The Grand Slam winner will receive a publishing package from Lucky Book Publishing that includes a New York Times Square billboard feature, valued at $20,000.

How the Grand Slam Works

Thirteen finalists will each deliver a 5-minute prepared speech inspired by the theme Catalyst.

Their speeches will be evaluated by a panel of 8 industry judges, looking not only at the strength of the story, but the speaker's message, transformation, presence and ability to connect with an audience.

Judging Criteria

Speeches are scored out of 100 points:

Message Clarity — 25 points

Storytelling — 25 points

Transformative — 15 points

'IT' Factor — 15 points

Entertaining — 10 points

Presentation — 10 points

Speech Rules

Speakers have five minutes to deliver their speech.

Props are permitted, but music requiring technical setup is not allowed.

Speakers who exceed 5 minutes and 30 seconds will receive a deduction of 1 point for every 5 seconds over the time limit.

One Night. Thirteen Stories. One Catalyst for Change.

Join us on November 21st, 2026 at the CBC Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto for the culmination of an extraordinary season.

Pierre Mousseau

Award-Winning Speaker, Author, Creator of the Before the Drift Leadership Workshop, Entrepreneur | Kleinberg, Canada

Pierre Mousseau is an award-winning inspirational speaker, entrepreneur, and author of *From the Ashes*. After losing his 20-year-old son, Parker, and later facing the near-collapse of his business, Pierre discovered that pain does not have to be the end of our story—it can become the beginning of a new one. Through vulnerability, humour, faith, and powerful storytelling, he inspires people to move through adversity, rediscover their purpose, and become the best version of themselves. "Your pain does not have to be the end of your story. Let it become the catalyst that propels you toward the person you were meant to become.”

Dr. Sujata Ives

Speaker, Counselor & Author | Maryland, United States

Sujata is a Silver Medal winner in Speaker Slam! She is a Global Speaker who inspires organizational cultures to be peaceful and ethical. "The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you figure our why". ~Mark Twain~

Adrian Leckie

Leadership Development Expert, Youth Success Strategist, Mental Health Speaker, Higher Education Professional | Scarborough, Canada

Adrian Leckie is a dynamic speaker, educator, and community builder who helps students and emerging professionals find their voice, build confidence, and lead with impact. With more than a decade of experience in higher education, mentorship, and leadership development, Adrian creates transformative spaces where people feel seen, supported, and inspired to step into their potential. He is also the creator of the Shades of Sixcess podcast where he interviews emerging professionals, and explores redefining success on your own terms. Blending powerful storytelling, pop-culture references, and practical leadership strategies, Adrian encourages audiences to stop waiting for permission and become the hero of their own story "Don’t just chase the big dream. Become the person capable of carrying it."

Sofranie Trencia

Inner Leadership and Sustainable Success Expert, Peak Performance Speaker, Former World Champion in Tae Kwon-Do, Circus Artist, Founder of Atomic Results | Montreal, Canada

Sofranie Trencia is an Inner Leadership and Sustainable Success Expert, Peak Performance Speaker, former World Champion in Tae Kwon-Do, circus artist, and founder of Atomic Results. Her extraordinary journey has taken her from becoming a World Champion athlete to training at Montreal’s National Circus School, earning a bronze medal at the prestigious Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris, performing internationally as a professional circus artist, and later working with Cirque du Soleil. But behind the achievements was a woman who never felt quite good enough. After years of pushing herself beyond her limits, Sofranie experienced a severe burnout that forced her to completely rethink success, identity, and what it truly means to be a champion. That experience became the catalyst for the work she does today. Drawing from her background in mindset, self-image, and applied neuroscience, Sofranie now helps women leaders, entrepreneurs, and high achievers build their Champion Identity and strengthen their Inner Leadership so they can achieve bigger goals without sacrificing themselves in the process. Her message is simple: You can never sustainably outperform your identity. Through her speaking and coaching, Sofranie is redefining what it means to be a champion—not simply someone who knows how to win, but someone who becomes the person capable of sustaining the win. “You can never sustainably outperform your identity.” — Sofranie Trencia