Speaker Slam®'s first Grand Slam brought fourteen speakers from the 2017 season back to Lula Lounge on November 21, 2017 on the theme Living an Inspired Life. Four judges chose the first Inspirational Speaker of the Year.
See who they chose in the 2017 Grand Slam recap.
Blake Fleischacker
Author, Speaker, Music-Maker, 7x TEDx Speaker
Blake is a huge fan of the Ninja Turtles, is heavily lactose intolerant and believes that human beings just want to be appreciated. He builds programs to help people in companies and on campuses appreciate themselves and each other. Since 2009, Blake has handwritten over 2200 thank you cards. Some of his programs include a city-wide Flashmob called Hi5Run, an underground surprise party called Train Reaction, home-based Thank U Parties, and My Life Online, an education company teaching kids to appreciate each other online. His innovative methods have gotten him invited to work with companies like LuluLemon, MEC, Microsoft and LinkedIN. Blake is the creator of an annual event called “New Year’s Evolutions: A Night For Entrepreneurs, Business Leaders and Changemakers to Celebrate Their Failures and Successes From The Past Year Of Their Life.” Blake's work has been featured on CTV, Breakfast Television, The National News, has shared the stage with CBC’s Rick Mercer and he is a seven time Tedx speaker. Blake’s family means the world to him and his partner, Emily, is the girl he plans to cook Kraft Dinner for over the next 75 years.
Fay Chapple
Global Business Strategist, Award Winning Entrepreneur, Professional Speaker, Thought Leader, Good Human Being
Fay Chapple is an Award Winning Entrepreneur, Global Business Strategist, Professional Speaker and A Leading Expert in Business, Social Selling, Lifestyle & Wellbeing. Fay’s highly sought after masterminds, live events, think tanks and keynotes have taught thousands of people around the globe to realize their dreams and launch multi million dollar businesses. Fay was a former successful global executive running business units for world renowned multinational organizations for over 25 years, until suddenly a catastrophic life altering event threw her a curve she never saw coming. Now Fay inspires others to embrace opportunities even in the face of adversity. When Fay’s husband suffered a disabling stroke in 2009, she was faced with the decision to reevaluate her life and career. After years of spending half of each month between three countries, she became house bound, caring for not only her disabled husband and their three children, but also both of her terminally ill in-laws. Not one to sit still, Armed with an MBA and new found sense of reality, her mission is to help businesses and individuals achieve unprecedented success despite any challenges or hurdles they face. She is the Founder & CEO of Clarity Group International, The Online Business Mastermind, The Speak Easy Formula and The Clarity Centre. She is also the Executive Director of The One Red Lipstick Project, Documentary and Best Seller. Her determination and resilence brought about local, national, and international guest speaking invitations, consulting contracts with Fortune 500 companies, and the opportunity to give back through her Health & Wellness Initiatives. "I believe in giving people an opportunity, but it’s up to them to embrace it. Don’t expect those opportunities to come your way forever. Opportunities are a gift, not a given. So many people walk away, maybe they feel they’re not good enough or not ready. Who cares if you fail? You can try again!” Fay Chapple
Karen Donaldson
Communication and Confidence Disruptor
Karen Donaldson is life lover, a rule challenger and a non stop smiler. Karen Donaldosn is a multi best selling author communication, body language, confidence coach and speaker. Karen is in the business of helping professional increase their impact on any platform when speaking, from the stage to online, to the boardroom. She also helps industry experts and entrepreneurs create a lucrative and sustainable speaking business, attracting more clients and creating 5 figure months.