Meet Your Judges for the 2025 Grand Slam - The Inspirational Speaking Finals
Oct 29, 2025Speaker Slam®'s 9th Annual Grand Slam: Inspirational Speaking Finals
This year marks Speaker Slam®'s 9th annual Grand Slam, an event that highlights the profound impact of storytelling. On November 22nd, 2025, at the CBC Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, the top 14 speakers from 2025 will take the stage to share their inspiring and life-changing stories under this year’s theme, Legacy.
The Theme: Legacy
The theme of this year’s Grand Slam, Legacy, invites us to reflect on the mark we leave behind—on the people we touch, the values we uphold, and the impact we create through our choices. Legacy isn’t just about achievements; it’s about meaning, purpose, and the ripple effect of our actions. As these speakers take the stage, they’ll remind us that every moment is an opportunity to shape how we’ll be remembered and to live a life that truly matters.
Throughout 2025, Speaker Slam®, North America’s largest inspirational speaking competition, has hosted five unforgettable qualifier competitions. Each event explored a unique theme that challenged speakers to dig deep, share their truth, and move audiences to tears, laughter, and reflection. Now, the top two speakers from each competition—along with four wildcard selections—will take the stage at the Grand Slam to compete for the title of Inspirational Speaker of the Year, a $5,000 cash prize, and a prize package worth $50,000.
Speaker Slam®: The Road to Legacy
Speaker Slam® continues to be a powerful platform for changemakers, visionaries, and everyday heroes who dare to use their voices to make a difference. This year, dozens of speakers stepped into the spotlight to share stories that transformed not only their lives but also the lives of everyone listening.
Here are the themes that defined the 2025 season leading up to the Grand Slam:
Resilience (January 28th, 2025) – Rising above hardship and finding strength through struggle.
No Risk, No Reward (March 25th, 2025) – Daring to take chances and bet on yourself.
The Power of No (May 27th, 2025) – Reclaiming boundaries and choosing alignment over approval.
The Underdog (July 15th, 2025) – Defying the odds and proving that heart and grit can outshine any obstacle.
Leaders (September 16th, 2025) – Inspiring others through vision, action, and authenticity.
Each competition has been a testament to the courage, vulnerability, and passion of our speakers. Now, it all leads to the 2025 Grand Slam: Legacy—where 14 of the year’s most exceptional voices will deliver the defining speeches of their lives and etch their mark on the Speaker Slam stage.
Meet Your Judges for the 2025 Grand Slam
A panel of 8 esteemed judges will be evaluating this year’s finalists, each bringing a wealth of experience and insight. These judges are known for their incredible contributions to various industries and will play a crucial role in helping crown the Inspirational Speaker of the Year.
Gordon Breault
CEO & Co-Founder
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Gordon Breault is the CEO and Co-Founder of the Speakers Bureau of Canada, North America’s fastest-growing speakers’ bureau. Mentored by his father, Roger Breault, Gordon launched the bureau in 2016, carrying forward a legacy of integrity and excellence in the speaking industry. Under his leadership, the company has rapidly expanded, developed custom software for operational efficiency, and formulating an organic and diverse forward-thinking team. Gordon’s vision continues to drive the bureau’s growth, fostering strong partnerships and shaping the future of the speaking industry in Canada.
Breanna Xavier-Carter
Producer at CTV Your Morning
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Breanna Xavier-Carter is a passionate storyteller with over six years of experience in some of Canada's top newsrooms, including the Toronto Star, blogTO and CTV Your Morning.
Breanna's work is driven by a deep curiosity and commitment to bringing the stories of marginalized communities to light and making complex topics accessible to a wide variety of audiences. With a keen eye for detail and a strong instinct for what makes a story compelling, Breanna excels at delivering content that informs, entertains and sparks conversation.
Jacqueline Clements
Tv Host, Producer, Owner and Co-Founder TCF4 Productions Media Company
Okotoks, Alberta, Canada
Jacqueline Clements is an award-nominated media professional, television host, and public speaking coach passionate about stories that inspire, inform, and transform lives. As co-creator and host of LEGACY MAKERS on YES TV™, she has helped bring over 78 impactful episodes to life. Alongside her husband, Bill, she co-founded TCF4 Productions, producing globally aired TV shows and award-nominated music videos. A sought-after speaker and emcee, Jacqueline helps others communicate with clarity, confidence, and heart through her Public Speaking With Purpose program. Off screen, she loves coffee, window seats, and living with faith, family, and purpose.
Anne Marie Perrault
CEO, Founder, Entrepreneur
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Anne Marie Perrault is an award-winning CEO, founder, and entrepreneur who has been empowering talent and brands for over 20 years. As the CEO and President of AMP Talent Group Inc., the agency she founded in 2004, she has become a recognized leader in Canada’s entertainment industry, securing contracts for artists in film, television, and theatre.
Her clients include some of the world’s most iconic brands—Apple, Netflix, Amazon, Nike, Google, Disney, and Coca-Cola, to name a few.
Beyond her agency, Anne Marie is the Executive Producer and Founder of the Canadian Actors Symposium, a mentorship and educational initiative supporting emerging talent in the film and television arts. She also serves as a juror for the Toronto Polish Film Festival, mentors at Ryerson University, and advocates for women and youth in leadership.
Kat McMorrow
CBC Producer, Labour Advocate, CMG Toronto location unit President, Mentor, Big Dreamer
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Kat McMorrow has been with CBC since 2010, contributing her skills and leadership across The National, Toronto Local, and various network assignments. She currently serves as a Senior Producer in the Entertainment and Education content units, where she helps shape stories that inform, inspire, and connect audiences across Canada.
Kat believes in the power of storytelling and collaboration, and creates spaces where diverse voices are heard and colleagues are encouraged to shine — fostering creativity, confidence, and excellence daily.
In her second term as CBC Toronto President of the Canadian Media Guild, Kat serves on union-management committees supporting fairness and inclusion.
Angie Seth
Journalists, Storyteller, Host
Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
Angie Seth is an award-winning journalist, news anchor, reporter, host, and storyteller with over 25 years of experience in the industry. She currently works as a freelance journalist at CBC, contributing to both television and radio as an anchor, reporter, and host.
Beyond the newsroom, Angie is a Professor in the journalism department at Seneca College, where she mentors the next generation of storytellers. She also serves as President of the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA), championing integrity, diversity, and excellence in journalism.
Evan Carmichael
Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker, YouTube Creator
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Evan Carmichael believes in entrepreneurs. At 19, he built and sold a biotech software company. By 22, he was a venture capitalist raising between $500K and $15M. Today, he runs a YouTube channel for entrepreneurs with over 3 million subscribers and 500 million views, has authored four books, and speaks globally to inspire people to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams.
Forbes named him one of the world’s Top 40 Social Marketing Talents, and Inc. recognized him as one of the “100 Great Leadership Speakers” and “25 Social Media Keynote Speakers You Need to Know.”
Gary Vaynerchuk called him “the DJ who inspires people” and Ed Mylett described him as “the modern-day Napoleon Hill.”
Beyond his business success, Evan holds two world records, owns Canada’s largest salsa dance studio (where he met his wife), and proudly calls Toronto home. His mission is simple yet powerful: to solve the world’s biggest problem — people don’t believe in themselves enough.
Stu Mclaren
Coach, Membership Expert, Founder of The Membership Experience
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Stu McLaren is an entrepreneur, coach, and community builder who helps experts, authors, speakers, and business owners transform their knowledge and influence into recurring revenue through thriving membership businesses.
In 2008, he co-founded WishList Member, the world’s most popular membership platform for WordPress, which went on to power over 70,000 online communities and membership sites before he sold his stake in 2014. Since then, Stu has partnered with industry leaders like Michael Hyatt to turn high-stress, six-figure businesses into highly profitable, purpose-driven enterprises.
As the creator of The Membership Experience™ and co-founder of Membership.io, Stu has helped tens of thousands of entrepreneurs across every niche launch, grow, and scale membership programs that create meaningful impact and long-term freedom.
Stu believes that recurring revenue is more than a business model—it’s a way to design a life of intention, impact, and joy.
The judges have offered the following prizes:
First Place
Speaker Slam - $5000 Cash Prize
Gordon Breault - TBD
Breanna Xavier-Carter - Spotlight Strategy Mentorship: A four-session personalized media coaching program designed to help you define your story, connect with the right media outlets, and shine on camera. You’ll identify your best media angles, curate ideal TV, radio, and podcast contacts, craft compelling pitches, and practice interview techniques to ensure you stand out and get invited back for future appearances (Value: $1000)
Jacqueline Clements - TBD
Anne Marie Perrault - AMP Talent Group Representation & Brand Package:
- Representation with AMP Talent Group for speaking, hosting, and commercial brand deals. It also features two one-hour personal branding strategy sessions (Value $1000).
- A $1,000 gift certificate toward a custom website design by the AMP It Up PR Creative Team, a professional bio and media pitch deck rewrite to enhance visibility.
- The AMP It Up PR Brand Strategy Guide — a roadmap to amplifying your presence and positioning your brand for success ($1000) (Total Value $3000).
Kat McMorrow - Mentorship package - 3 mentorship sessions, possible introductions and directional support (Value: $3000)
Angie Seth - Elite Media Training Package – Four two-hour one-on-one sessions covering confidence and presence, public speaking skills, embracing authenticity, and bringing it all to the podium; personalized coaching to help you discover, celebrate, and leverage your authentic self (Value $7,500).
Evan Carmichael - TBD
Stu McLaren - TBD
Second Place
Gordon Breault - TBD
Breanna Xavier-Carter - The Media Accelerator Mentorship: A two-session personalized media strategy program designed to help you define your story and craft compelling pitches that capture media attention. You’ll uncover your unique angles, refine your expert message, and learn how to create and deliver standout pitches for TV, radio, and podcast opportunities (Value: $500)
Jacqueline Clements - TBD
Anne Marie Perrault -
- Representation with AMP Talent Group for Speaking, Hosting & Commercial Brand Deals, 2 X 1-Hour Personal Branding Coaching Sessions (Value $1000)
- $500 Gift Certificate toward Website or Branding Services, a Personalized Social Media & Visibility Audit (Value $350)
- The AMP It Up PR Brand Strategy Guide - a roadmap to amplifying your presence and positioning your brand for success (Value $1000).
Kat McMorrow - Mentorship package - 2 mentorship sessions, possible introductions and directional support (Value: $2000)
Angie Seth - TBD
Evan Carmichael - TBD
Stu McLaren - TBD
Third Place
Gordon Breault - TBD
Breanna Xavier-Carter - The Visibility Mentorship: A one-hour personalized media strategy session focused on helping you craft custom media pitches. Learn how to write and deliver attention-grabbing pitches tailored to your background and expertise (Value: $250)
Jacqueline Clements - TBD
Anne Marie Perrault -
- Representation with AMP Talent Group for Speaking, Hosting & Commercial Brand Deals, 1-Hour Personal Branding Coaching Sessions (Value $500)
- The AMP It Up PR Brand Strategy Guide - a roadmap to amplifying your presence and positioning your brand for success (Value $1000).
Kat McMorrow - Mentorship package - 2 mentorship session, possible introductions and directional support (Value: $2000).
Angie Seth - TBD
Evan Carmichael - TBD
Stu McLaren - TBD
The 2025 Grand Slam promises to be a night filled with inspiration, courage, and unforgettable moments. As these speakers step onto the stage to share their brave stories, they will not only compete for the title but also remind us of the power of storytelling to change lives.
Don’t miss the chance to be a part of this transformative event! Join us on November22nd at the CBC Glenn Gould Studio and witness the rise of the next Inspirational Speaker of the Year.
🎟️ Get your tickets now at www.SpeakerSlam.org/events and be part of this life-changing experience!
