Speaker Slam®, North America’s largest inspirational speaking competition, returns this September with a transformative new theme: Reinvention.
Join us on September 15th at the iconic Lula Lounge in Toronto for an unforgettable evening where courageous voices take the stage to share how they’ve rebuilt, redefined, and rediscovered themselves.
This event highlights the turning points that change everything, the moments that force us to start over, and the bold decisions that lead to becoming someone new. Each speaker will share a deeply personal story that reminds us: reinvention isn’t about becoming someone else, it’s about rising into who you were always meant to be.
Get ready for a night of resilience, growth, and powerful storytelling that will leave you inspired to embrace your own next chapter.
Meet Your Judges for Reinvention
We’re proud to introduce our esteemed panel of judges, leaders in storytelling, media, entrepreneurship, and influence, who will be listening for authenticity, transformation, and the voices that truly embody what it means to reinvent yourself.
Nicole Servinis
Television Host, Producer, Podcast Creator | Toronto, Canada
Throughout her career, Nicole has covered marquee events including the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Paris, New York Fashion Week and TIFF, interviewing A-list talent including Selena Gomez, Scarlett Johansson, and Melissa McCarthy. Today, she hosts Things To Know in T.O. on CP24, CTV and CTV2, and can also be seen in front of the camera on W Network’s Movie Date. Behind the scenes, Nicole produces and directs content for Corus Entertainment. She is also the creator + host of Miss Matched, now with Rogers Media, exploring love, relationships and the messy realities of modern life.
Joze Piranian
Global Keynote Speaker, Harper Collins Author, Stand-up Comedian | Toronto, Canada
Joze Piranian is a global keynote speaker, HarperCollins author, and stand-up comedian who has delivered six TEDx talks and spoken at organizations including Google, Meta, Netflix, IBM and BlackRock. In 2017, he was named Inspirational Speaker of the Year by Speaker Slam. The award-nominated documentary Words Left Unspoken chronicles Joze’s journey from avoiding speaking because of a severe stutter to performing on stages around the world. His book, Stop Holding Back: An Honest Guide to Turning Fear into Action, was published by HarperCollins in 2026.
Cristina Carpio
Media Personality, Entrepreneur | Oakville, Canada
A Canadian media personality, entrepreneur, and storyteller whose career spans media, hospitality, and lifestyle. A former CTV News reporter and CTV Morning Live host, Cristina has built a career rooted in the power of storytelling and meaningful connections. Today, she is CEO of Evolve Media Group Inc. and Editor-in-Chief of Evolve Magazine, where she is passionate about helping Canadians, entrepreneurs, and brands share their stories and amplify their voices. A champion of diversity, community, and reinvention, Cristina is thrilled to return as a Speaker Slam Judge. Reinvention resonates deeply with her, having reinvented herself throughout her personal and professional journey.
Darius Bashar
Creativity Coach, Portrait Photographer & Founder of ArtistMorning.com | Toronto, Canada
Darius Bashar is a creativity coach, portrait photographer, and founder of ArtistMorning.com, helping speakers and leaders build the clarity, confidence, and consistency to bring meaningful work into the world. His photography has been seen more than 100 million times, and he has photographed leading speakers and thought leaders including Seth Godin, Elizabeth Gilbert, Dr. Shefali, Jim Kwik, Lisa Nichols, and Masai Ujiri. His work has appeared in TIME, Apple, USA TODAY, and Oprah.com. Through coaching and his signature HEARTshots™ photography experience, Darius helps people strengthen their voice, message, and how they show up in the world.
The Prize Package
Our judges have generously contributed to a transformative prize package designed to elevate our winners and support their next chapter on and off the stage:
First Place
Speaker Slam®: $2,000 cash prize and Invitation to the Grand Slam
Nicole Servinis: Podcast Feature Package — Includes a 1-hour sit-down podcast interview, full promotion across social media and streaming platforms, and distribution through Rogers TV outlets
Joze Piranian: Impact2Income Speaker Intensive — 3 hours of private coaching (Value: $2,000)
Cristina Carpio: Evolve Ultimate Contributor Package — 3 months as an Evolve Magazine contributor, online publishing opportunities, official contributor announcement on Instagram, and a 1-hour personal brand coaching session focused on positioning, storytelling, and visibility
Darius Bashar: HEARTshot™ Photography Session — A signature photoshoot experience designed for emerging thought leaders to capture authentic, powerful images aligned with their future self (Value: $3,500)
Second Place
Speaker Slam®: Invitation to the Grand Slam
Nicole Servinis: Mentorship and Social Media Shoot
Joze Piranian: Impact2Income Strategy Session — 2 hours of private coaching (Value: $1,500)
Cristina Carpio: Evolve Spotlight Winner Package — Includes a 1-hour personal brand coaching session, guest contributor opportunity, and the chance to publish two original articles with Evolve Magazine Canada
Darius Bashar: Photography and Social Media Audit — A 1-hour session reviewing your visual brand, online presence, and speaker assets with actionable recommendations (Value: $500)
Third Place
Speaker Slam®: Entry to the Wildcard Race
Nicole Servinis: Mentorship
Joze Piranian: Impact2Income Power Session — 1 hour of private coaching (Value: $800)
Cristina Carpio: Evolve Brand Builder Prize Package — Includes a 1-hour personal brand coaching session and one featured article opportunity with Evolve Magazine Canada
Darius Bashar: Photography and Social Media Audit — A 1-hour session with feedback on branding, visuals, and speaker presence (Value: $500)