Speaker Slam® News: Recap of Leaders 2025 Competition

Leaders: A Night of Resilience, Courage, and Victory

Lula Lounge was buzzing with energy as ten incredible speakers took the stage for Leaders: The Underdog, ready to share their stories of resilience, courage, and unstoppable determination.

The evening was a celebration of the underdog spirit – of those who rise despite the odds, lead with heart when the road is tough, and turn obstacles into opportunities for growth.

Each speaker offered a powerful and unique perspective on what it means to be an underdog, reminding us that true leadership is born in the moments we refuse to back down.

Meet Your Leaders Champions

1st Place – Robert Alexander 

Finance and Business Executive, Executive Leader, Entrepreneur, Aspiring Coach
Speech: "From Eyesight to Insight: A Leadership Transformation"

Prizes Won:

•  Speaker Slam®: $2000 Cash Prize + Invitation to the Grand Slam

• Camille Dundas: Premier Media Mastery Package One-hour session (plus one-month email/DM follow-up) includes personalized broadcast readiness coaching, media pitch development, interview preparation, and a personal review of your media strategy to elevate your visibility (Valued at $10,000)

• Simon Ostler: 3h Signature Story Strategy Session: one-on-one session with Simon, designed to help you craft, refine, and elevate your personal story for maximum impact. You’ll get actionable feedback, tailored messaging advice, and a concrete plan to position yourself as an authority in your field (Value: $3,000).

• Klaudia Zinaty: 3 hours of Marketing Consulting + Ticket to Elevate Festival.

• Zarak Fatah: The PATH group coaching program - Value $2997 USD

2nd Place – Jenni Cathcart 

Keynote Speaker, Coach & Innovation Catalyst
Speech: "Leadership Lessons in Slime"

Prizes Won:

• Speaker Slam®: Invitation to the Grand Slam.

• Camille Dundas: Elite Speaker Mentorship - A one-hour coaching session on your broadcast media presentation skills, media interview tips, and a personal review of your media strategy to elevate your visibility (Valued at $5,000).

• Simon Ostler: 2h Signature Story Strategy Session: one-on-one session with Simon, designed to help you craft, refine, and elevate your personal story for maximum impact. You’ll get actionable feedback, tailored messaging advice, and a concrete plan to position yourself as an authority in your field (Value: $2,000).

• Klaudia Zinaty: 1 hour of Marketing Consulting + Swag bag from Women Empowerment Awards worth over $1000 in products and services

• Zarak Fatah: The PATH online program - Value $997 USD

3rd Place – Aimee Mack 

Transformational Speaker, Identity and Leadership Coach, CEO & Founder
Speech: "Let Them Watch You Rise"

Prizes Won:

• Speaker Slam®: Entry to Wildcard Race.

• Camille Dundas: Media Boost - One-hour session includes media interview tips and a personal review of your media strategy to elevate your visibility (Valued at $1,500).

• Simon Ostler: 1h Signature Story Strategy Session: one-on-one session with Simon, designed to help you craft, refine, and elevate your personal story for maximum impact. You’ll get actionable feedback, tailored messaging advice, and a concrete plan to position yourself as an authority in your field (Value: $1,000).

• Klaudia Zinaty: 1 Hour of Marketing Consulting.

• Zarak Fatah: 1 on 1 coaching session (60 minutes) Value $495 USD

4th Place –  Inga Tkachenko Ramage

Public Speaker, Road Safety Advocate, and Co-founder of Inga Educates
Speech: "The Choice That Saves Lives"

Meet the Judges Who Made It All Happen

• Camille Dundas – Founder of The IDEA Practice, Editor-in-Chief of ByBlacks
  

• Simon Ostler – Media Strategist, Consultant, Journalism Instructor
  

• Klaudia Zinaty – Founder & CEO, Women Empowerment Awards & The Women Empowerment Foundation
  

•  Zarak Fatah – Entrepreneur, Empowerment Mentor
  
  

Their wisdom, warmth, and generosity provided invaluable feedback and life-changing opportunities for the competitors.

Words of Wisdom Speaker: Rina Rovinelli  

One of the highlights of the night was hearing from our co-founder, Rina Rovinelli, who returned to the stage with a funny and inspiring message about no longer “weighting” to live. She reminded us that we don’t need to wait for the perfect timing to step into our power – the right time is now.

Unforgettable Moments

• Calissa Ngozi stepped in to co-host, bringing humor and heart to the evening. A longtime member of the Speaker Slam family, she embodied the essence of the event’s theme.
• Momentum members showed up in full force, creating an electrifying atmosphere of support and celebration.

What’s Next?

Our long awaited Grand Slam is happening on November 22nd at the CBC Glenn Gould Theatre 

📅 Next Event: The Grand Slam - November 22nd