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Wild Card Race

The Wild Card Race is the final chance for speakers to earn a place in the Grand Slam: Inspirational Speaking Finals — Speaker Slam’s biggest stage of the year.

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This year’s Grand Slam theme is Legacy, and it will take place on Saturday, November 22nd at the CBC Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto. The winners will receive $5,000 cash and a prize package valued up to $50,000.

The Wild Card Race brings back standout speakers from this season who delivered powerful talks but did not advance. For a few days, the public votes online while the Speaker Slam team reviews performances, momentum, and impact. The outcome fills the final five places at the Grand Slam.

The Wild Card Race is about merit, momentum, community, and redemption.

 

How It Works

  1. Voting runs from September 23rd to September 24th 11:59 PM EST.

  2. The public casts votes at www.speakerslam.org/vote. One vote per person.

  3. The Speaker Slam team reviews each speaker’s performance, momentum after their qualifier, and overall impact.

  4. Two speakers advance by community vote. Three speakers are selected by the Speaker Slam team.

  5. Selected speakers join the Grand Slam lineup on November 22nd.

 

Selection Criteria

Advancement is based on public support and a holistic review by the production team:

  • Community voting — top two by votes

  • Speaking quality — clarity, structure, delivery, stage presence

  • Momentum — growth after the qualifier, audience response, and outcomes

  • Impact — message reach, resonance, and contribution to the community

  • Professionalism — reliability, collaboration, and sportsmanship

 

Voting Rules

  • One vote per email.

  • Votes outside the official window will not be counted.

  • Automated or fraudulent activity will be removed.

 

Support Your Favorite Speaker

Cast your vote during the voting window and share their posts to help them reach the Finals.