Human Connection: A Packed House at Lula Lounge
On March 26, ten speakers from across Canada and the US took the Speaker Slam® stage at Lula Lounge in Toronto with their take on Human Connection. Co-founder Rina Rovinelli said the speakers accomplished exactly what the theme asked of them.
It was a packed house with incredible energy, and Momentum members came out in full force to support the newest members of the community on their speaking journeys.
1st Place: Val Vee
Entrepreneur, Motivational Speaker, Empowerment Advocate Speech: "Unfriend Me If"
Val is a speaker, entrepreneur and the founder of the community Ladies Who Dine. Her talk opened outside a garden center, where she was berated by strangers for not wearing a mask while medically exempt because of a serious sinus condition. Rina called it a raw and real talk and a homerun.
2nd Place: Sonia Palleck
Mom, Orthodontist, Love Advocate Speech: "One Love"
Sonia has practiced orthodontics for 25 years and wrote and self-published the four-book series Leave the Little Light On. Built around a Bob Marley song she used as a mantra, her speech was what Rina described as an insightful and vulnerable share on racism, starting with a thought she caught in herself and chose to hold herself accountable for.
3rd Place: Meagan O'Nan
Award-Winning Author, Keynote Speaker, Vulnerable Storytelling Expert, Inner and Outer Peace Warrior Speech: "The Power to Hurt and to Heal"
Meagan is an award-winning author and keynote speaker whose books include Creating Your Heaven on Earth, Courage and Held and Free. Her riveting talk told the story of being outed as gay at 22 in small town Mississippi.
4th Place: Yusuf Khoja rounded out the top four with his talk "Self Discovery."
Meet the Judges Who Made It All Happen
- Brian Miller, Speech Design Consultant
- Cher Jones, Personal Branding Strategist & Trainer
- Niki Papaioannou, Entrepreneur, Media Guru
- Roger Petersen, CTV News Channel Anchor
Rina thanked the judges and said their prizes would go a long way toward helping the speakers reach excellence with speaking. Brian Miller donated a three-hour Build Your Big Idea Session with a Conquer the Red Dot® Certified Coach, plus access to his Idea to Opportunity course.
Words of Wisdom Speaker: Brian Miller
Former magician turned international speaker Brian Miller, founder of Conquer the Red Dot®, shared words of wisdom on the night's theme.
Next up on the 2024 season was Freedom in May.
Meet the full lineup in Meet the Speakers for Human Connection 2024 and the panel in Meet Your Judges for Human Connection.