No Risk, No Reward: Taking the Leap
No Risk, No Reward was nothing short of incredible. On March 25th, 2025, ten powerful speakers stepped onto the Lula Lounge stage, taking big risks and sharing their stories with heart and conviction, all for a chance to advance to the Grand Slam Inspirational Speaking Finals that November.
The atmosphere was electric, and it was a night the room will not forget.
1st Place: Charles Achampong
Executive in Residence, Bestselling Author and Keynote Speaker
Charles took first place with a deeply insightful and moving talk.
Prizes Won:
- Speaker Slam®: $2,000 cash prize & Invitation to the Grand Slam
- Jay Wong: The Podcast Powerhouse Package, a full-production, Top 100 podcast season done for you, plus two private strategy sessions and full access to the Podcast Your Brand Flagship Program ($20,000 Value)
- Steve Lowell: 1 coaching session + Signature Talk Mastery Online Program ($7,500 Value)
- Stephanie Lui-Valentim: Legacy in Motion: Crafting Your Intentful Journey, a 3-hour workshop (Valued at $2,000)
- Theresa Beenken: Speakers Bureau "Rising Star" Ready Package, review and feedback on your speaker portfolio with coaching on next steps (Valued at $2,000)
2nd Place: Aanchal Vash
Author, Motivational Speaker, High Performance Wellness Trainer
Aanchal fired up the audience and secured second place with her powerful message.
Prizes Won:
- Speaker Slam®: Invitation to the Grand Slam
- Jay Wong: The Million-Dollar Growth Blueprint, two strategy sessions plus full access to the Podcast Your Brand Flagship Program ($6,000 Value)
- Steve Lowell: 30-minute talk review + Signature Talk Mastery Online Program ($5,000 Value)
- Stephanie Lui-Valentim: 1 hour of coaching (Valued at $1,000)
- Theresa Beenken: 3 bestselling personal and professional development books (Valued at $100)
3rd Place: Sofranie Trencia
Certified Mindset & Success Coach, Human Performance Expert
Sofranie delivered an electrifying performance to claim third. She returned to the stage a year later and placed second at Breakthrough 2026.
Prizes Won:
- Speaker Slam®: Entry to the Wild Card Race
- Jay Wong: The Podcast Launch Mastery Program ($1,500 Value)
- Steve Lowell: Signature Talk Mastery Online Program ($2,500 Value)
- Stephanie Lui-Valentim: 1 hour of coaching (Valued at $1,000)
4th Place: Pat Doyle rounded out the top four with a heartfelt and hilarious tribute to the Balding Fat Asses.
Meet the Judges Who Made It All Happen
- Steve Lowell: Master Trainer to High-Impact Speakers Around the Globe
- Jay Wong: Podcast Rainmaker, Entrepreneur, and Lifelong Experimenter
- Theresa Beenken: CEO of National Speakers Bureau
- Stephanie Lui-Valentim: Co-Founder & CEO of Quell Agency
Their thoughtful feedback and life-changing prizes elevated the entire night. Read more about the panel in Meet Your Judges for No Risk, No Reward 2025.
Unforgettable Moments
Words of Wisdom speaker Samantha Moonsammy Gordon left the room inspired and uplifted. Lilian Maricela Motta, part of the Speaker Slam® family for seven years, stepped in to co-host and brought heart and humour to the evening.
The Momentum members showed up in full force. See who competed in Meet the Speakers for No Risk, No Reward 2025.