Brave: The 2024 Inspirational Speaking Finals
On November 9, the 14 best speakers of the 2024 season returned for the Speaker Slam® Grand Slam at CBC Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, competing for the title of Inspirational Speaker of the Year. The theme was Brave: owning your truth and standing tall in the face of challenges.
The show played to a sold out crowd, and Blake Fleischacker hosted the Passion Speedshare. Co-founder Rina Rovinelli said every speaker brought the magic and the judges had an incredibly difficult time scoring.
1st Place: Danielle Campo McLeod
Award Winning Speaker, Paralympic Gold Medalist, Resiliency Expert Speech: "A Mother's Promise"
Danielle won multiple gold medals and set world records at the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. Her speech began at age two in a specialist's office, where a diagnosis of muscular dystrophy shattered her mother's world. Rina said Danielle really showed the room what brave means.
2nd Place: Alana Moor
Award Winning Speaker, Mindset Coach, Prison Advocate Speech: "Walking Through Fear"
Alana spent four and a half years in a Panamanian prison and later founded a foundation that provides dignity packages to women incarcerated there. Her speech put the audience inside a prison raid. Rina called the night her redemption.
3rd Place: Val Vee
Serial Entrepreneur, Certified Inspirational Speaker, Award Winning Speaker, Empowerment Coach Speech: "Unbroken"
Val, the Human Connection 2024 winner and founder of the networking group Ladies Who Dine, opened with a tense trip across the border into Mexico. Rina said Val's vulnerability brought shivers and tears.
4th Place: Leisse Wilcox rounded out the top four with "Brave Enough," a talk Rina praised for its humour and courage.
Meet the Judges Who Made It All Happen
- Cesar Cervantes, Speechwriter & Founder of Top Talks
- Cristina Carpio, TV/Media Personality, Founder/Editor in Chief
- Darius Bashar, Portrait Photographer and Creator of ArtistMorning.com
- Fennella Bruce, Media Consultant and Producer
- Gordon Breault, CEO & Co-Founder, Speakers Bureau of Canada
- Jayson Gaignard, Head Curator at MMT
- Nakita Singh Hans, Producer and Strategist
- Sarah Bean, Marketing Manager for Book Launchers, Speaking and Publishing Expert
The judges donated their time and prizes, including a Top Talks TEDx Mentorship Program from Cesar Cervantes and a Speaking Career Booster from Gordon Breault.
Words of Wisdom Speaker: Martin Lesperance
The 2023 Inspirational Speaker of the Year set the tone for the evening with his talk.
Words of Wisdom Speaker: Rina Rovinelli
Speaker Slam® co-founder Rina Rovinelli also shared words of wisdom from the stage.
Meet the full lineup in Meet the Speakers for the 2024 Grand Slam and the panel in Meet Your Judges for the 2024 Grand Slam.