Speaker Slam®'s 8th Annual Grand Slam: Inspirational Speaking Finals
This year marks Speaker Slam®'s 8th annual Grand Slam, an event that highlights the profound impact of storytelling. On November 9th, 2024, at the CBC Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, the top 14 speakers from 2024 will take the stage to share their inspiring and life-changing stories under this year's theme, Brave.
The Theme: Brave
The theme of this year's Grand Slam, Brave, encourages us to step beyond our fears and embrace challenges head-on. It's a reminder that bravery is not the absence of fear but the strength to persist in the face of it.
Throughout 2024, Speaker Slam® hosted five thrilling qualifier competitions:
- Reinvention (January 30th, 2024) - A celebration of personal transformation and new beginnings.
- Human Connection (March 26th, 2024) - Emphasizing the power of relationships and shared experiences.
- Freedom (May 28th, 2024) - Embracing authenticity and living true to oneself.
- Perseverance (July 16th, 2024) - Highlighting resilience and determination in the face of adversity.
- Power of Yes (September 17th, 2024) - Encouraging the acceptance of new opportunities and growth.
Meet Your Judges for the 2024 Grand Slam
Gordon Breault
CEO & Co-Founder, Speakers Bureau of Canada | Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Gordon Breault is the CEO and Co-Founder of the Speakers Bureau of Canada, North America's fastest-growing speakers' bureau. Mentored by his father, Roger Breault, Gordon launched the bureau in 2016, carrying forward a legacy of integrity and excellence in the speaking industry.
@gordbreault | @speakerscanada
Sarah Bean
Marketing Manager for Book Launchers, Speaking and Publishing Expert | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Sarah Bean is Book Launchers' marketing professional with 20 years of entertainment and publishing experience. Starting in the literary and speaking department of a worldwide booking agency, Sarah learned the roots of publishing working with celebrities, influencers and business leaders to publish bestselling titles. She has managed NY Times best-selling authors, produced live events like TEDx and been an entertainment journalist.
Cesar Cervantes
Speechwriter & Founder of Top Talks | Houston, Texas, USA
Cesar Cervantes is a speaker coach and speechwriter. He started his journey as a stand-up comedian, was featured on Comedy Central and was even in a few movies. He has served as a 5x TEDx speaker coach on 3 continents and now leads Top Talks and his TEDx & Keynote Mentorship program.
Nakita Singh Hans
Producer and Strategist | Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Originally from Northern Ireland, with over 10 years of experience producing content for major networks in North America and the U.K., Nakita has worked with the world's biggest celebrities, authors, and brands. She's produced for a range of national shows including ET Canada, Global News, Love Island After Sun, The Social CTV, and SiriusXM Canada.
Darius Bashar
Portrait Photographer and Creator of ArtistMorning.com | Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Darius Bashar is an acclaimed photographer renowned for working with global celebrities, best-selling authors, and thought leaders such as Seth Godin, Liz Gilbert, Dr. Shefali, Jim Kwik, and Masai Ujiri. His work has been showcased in TIME, Apple, Forbes, USA TODAY, and Oprah.com. As the founder of ArtistMorning.com, he leads a global community of creators and has facilitated over 1,000 meditations, downloaded over 1 million times since 2020.
Christina Carpio
TV/Media Personality, Founder/Editor in Chief | Oakville, Ontario, Canada
A TV/media personality, strategist, and storyteller with over a decade in news, lifestyle, and entertainment. As a former main host of CTV Morning Live, she produced and presented diverse content. She founded Evolve Magazine, a platform that aims to educate and inspire Canadians. Cristina's community leadership has earned her the RBC Top 50 Canadian Immigrant Award and the Queen's Jubilee Pin in 2023.
@cristina.carpio01 | @evolvemagazinegroup
Fennella Bruce
Media Consultant and Producer | Pickering, Ontario, Canada
A veteran television producer and writer, Fennella Bruce is now at the helm of FKB Media Solutions and FKB Media Productions Inc. She has served on many critique juries, including the Canadian Screen Awards and The New York Festivals International TV Broadcasting Awards. She is the Chair of the Foundation Board of Women in Film and Television - Toronto. This year, Fennella is Reel World's Visionary Award recipient and the 2023 IABC/Rogers Communicator of the Year.
Jayson Gaignard
Head Curator at MMT | New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada
With just shy of 19,500 applications since its inception in 2013, Jayson's invite-only MMT Community has a lower acceptance rate than Harvard University. He's hosted celebrated speakers such as Esther Perel, James Clear, Gary Vaynerchuk, Tony Hawk and more. His work has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, Forbes, Business Insider, along with dozens of books including Tim Ferriss' New York Times bestseller Tools of Titans.
Prize Packages
First Place
- Speaker Slam®: $3,000 Cash Prize + Signature Legacy Video (Valued at $1,497)
- Gordon Breault: Speaking Career Booster - One Free Corporate Speaking Gig Up to $5,000, $500 Gift Card, and One Hour Elite Coaching Session (Valued at $6,000)
- Sarah Bean: Stage to Page Power Package ($2,500)
- Cesar Cervantes: Top Talks TEDx Mentorship Program ($5,000)
- Nakita Singh Hans: Media Coaching Package
- Fennella Bruce: Media Training Consultation (Valued at $2,500)
- Darius Bashar: HEARTshot Photography Session (Valued at $3,500)
- Cristina Carpio: The Evolve Contributor Package - 6 months at Evolve Magazine + 1-on-1 Personal Branding Coaching
- Jayson Gaignard: Mentorship Package - Two exclusive 45-minute one-on-one mentorship calls (Valued at $5,000)
Second Place
- Speaker Slam®: $1,500 Cash Prize
- Gordon Breault: Media Kit Booster ($1,000)
- Sarah Bean: Marketing Manuscript Assessment + 30-minute Branding Call
- Cesar Cervantes: Top Talks TEDx Mentorship Program ($5,000)
- Nakita Singh Hans: Media Coaching Package
- Darius Bashar: Photography & Social Media Audit ($500)
- Cristina Carpio: The Guest Spotlight Package
- Jayson Gaignard: Mentorship Session (Valued at $1,500)
Third Place
- Speaker Slam®: $500 Cash Prize
- Gordon Breault: One Hour Elite Coaching Session ($500)
- Sarah Bean: 30-minute Branding Call
- Cesar Cervantes: Full speech script review plus coaching session ($1,500)
- Darius Bashar: Photography & Social Media Audit ($500)
- Nakita Singh Hans: Media Coaching Package
- Cristina Carpio: One Hour of Personal Branding Coaching ($1,500)
- Jayson Gaignard: Mentorship Session (Valued at $1,500)
The 2024 Grand Slam promises to be a night filled with inspiration, courage, and unforgettable moments. Join us on November 9th at the CBC Glenn Gould Studio and witness the rise of the next Inspirational Speaker of the Year.