Meet Your Speakers for the 2025 Grand Slam: The Inspirational Speaking Finals
Oct 08, 2025Speaker Slam®’s 9th Annual Grand Slam: Inspirational Speaking Finals
On November 22nd, 2025, Speaker Slam® will host its 9th Annual Grand Slam: Inspirational Speaking Finals at the CBC Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto. This is the most anticipated night of the year—where the top 14 speakers of 2025 will step onto the stage to share their most powerful and transformative stories under this year’s theme: Legacy.
The Theme: Legacy
This year’s theme, Legacy, invites us to consider the mark we leave on the world. It’s about more than accomplishments or accolades—it’s about the impact we make on others, the values we carry forward, and the stories that will live on long after we are gone.
Through deeply personal and moving speeches, the finalists will reflect on what it means to create a life of purpose, influence, and meaning. Their stories will challenge us to look within, to ask ourselves what we want our own legacies to be, and to live with intention in the present.
The Road to the Grand Slam
Throughout 2025, Speaker Slam®, North America’s largest inspirational speaking competition, hosted five thrilling qualifier competitions, each built around a unique theme. At each event, speakers bared their hearts and shared their truths, creating unforgettable moments that moved and inspired live audiences.
The top two speakers from each competition, along with four wildcard selections, have now earned their place at the Grand Slam. They will compete for the prestigious title of Inspirational Speaker of the Year, a $5,000 cash prize, and a prize package worth $50,000.
Here are the themes that defined the journey to this year’s Grand Slam:
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Resilience (January 28th, 2025) – Showcasing the strength to rise above adversity and keep moving forward no matter the challenge.
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No Risk, No Reward (March 25th, 2025) – Inspiring stories of bold leaps, courageous choices, and the payoffs that come from daring to try.
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The Power of No (May 27th, 2025) – A celebration of boundaries, self-respect, and the freedom that comes from standing firm in our truth.
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The Underdog (July 15th, 2025) – Honoring those who defy expectations, fight against the odds, and prove what’s possible.
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Leaders (September 16th, 2025) – Spotlighting voices of influence, impact, and empowerment who guide others toward growth and change
Together, these competitions have brought forward an extraordinary array of voices, each with a unique message that now converges at the Grand Slam—the ultimate stage for inspiration.
Meet the 2025 Grand Slam Speakers
Regula Fischer
Founder of Many Firsts, Transformation & Leadership Expert, Actress, Author, Artist
Zürich, Switzerland
Regula Fischer is a transformation and leadership expert with 20 years of experience in global organizations. As a coach, actress, author, and artist, she empowers teams and individuals to align their work and personal lives with their most ambitious goals and dreams.
Building on her extensive expertise, Regula has developed her own unique approach to Organizational Change Management (OCM), combining practical strategies with creativity and personal growth principles to guide teams through change with resilience and purpose. Through her engaging workshops, keynotes, and global speaking engagements, she inspires individuals to embrace change and unlock their potential with confidence and playfulness.
Regula is the founder of Many Firsts, a transformative lifestyle brand that inspires courage, curiosity, and creativity to help people worldwide realize their deepest aspirations. She hosts the Many Firsts Conversations podcast, delving into meaningful firsts and transformative experiences from her guests’ personal and professional lives.
"KEEP SOME ROOM IN YOUR HEART FOR THE UNIMAGINABLE" - Mary Oliver
Ivan Fredette
Entrepreneur, Coach, Mentor
Fenwick, Ontario, Canada
Ivan Fredette is a Men’s Transformation & Leadership Expert, Resilience Speaker, and 7-Figure Serial Entrepreneur committed to helping leaders and fathers rise above adversity and lead lives of purpose, discipline, and integrity.
After unimaginable loss, including the suicides of his cousin Tyler and sister Jenieveve, Ivan spent 17 years numbing the pain with alcohol before deciding on December 26th, 2020, to transform his life. Rejecting traditional recovery, he built his own path of radical responsibility, mindset mastery, and self-leadership.
He went on to create Ironclad Brotherhood—a coaching and mentorship community where men become extraordinary fathers—and ARMOR Coaching, a framework for executives to maximize aspirations, revenue, muscle, oneness, and relationships. Ivan is also the founder of Safe Tree, a seven figure tree care company.
Today, he speaks on stages, leads powerful communities, and equips men and executives to break cycles, build legacy, and lead with honor. He lives in Niagara with his wife and three children.
"Courage isn’t what you feel before facing fear. It’s what you gain after"
Patti Bevilacqua
Mindset Expert, Resilience Educator, Workplace Inclusion Advocate
Grand Forks, British Colombia, Canada
Dr. Patti Bevilacqua is a Mindset Expert, Resilience Educator, and Workplace Inclusion Advocate who proves that every challenge is an opening to something greater. She founded fearLESS with MS, a global community of 600+, and is an award-winning Speaker Slam competitor and Certified Inspirational Speaker. Named the Rise to Greater Heights 2025 Changemaker, Trailblazer, Visionary, and Leader of the Year, Patti also launched her debut book, MS doesn’t define ME, during Disability Pride Month 2025, advancing her mission to inspire resilience, break barriers, and redefine what’s possible.
"Your ‘no’ isn’t the end of the road—it’s an invitation to detour and uncover opportunities you never knew existed" - Patti Bevilacqua, PhD
@Fearlesswithms
Patrick Morrison
Motivational Speaker, Mindset Coach and Ironman Triathlete
Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Patrick Morrison is an Ironman triathlete, coach, and speaker who believes that life’s greatest victories come from simply showing up—and then keeping on showing up. Having crossed the finish line of multiple Half Ironman races, Patrick knows firsthand the power of resilience, grit, and belief in the face of setbacks. Whether it’s battling through the open water during a panic attack or pushing past self-doubt on the run, he has learned that growth comes from moving forward even when every fiber of your being says stop.
Beyond racing, Patrick inspires others by leading from the front—coaching youth baseball, raising thousands for charity through endurance events, and motivating audiences to see that they, too, can rise above limits. His message is simple but powerful: the Ironman mindset is not about medals or finish lines—it’s about transforming obstacles into stepping stones and proving to yourself that you are stronger than you think.
“Step one: showing up. Step two: keep showing up.”
Michelle Weger
Productivity Expert, Resilience Speaker, AI & Business Automation Strategist
Ontario, Canada
Michelle Weger is an Productivity Expert, Resilience Speaker, and AI & Business Automation Strategist with over 14 years of proven success. Following her narcolepsy diagnosis in her early twenties, Michelle channeled that challenge into a driving force for business building and relied on automation to sustain the lifestyle she needed and to maximize every moment of wakefulness.
Michelle founded Venture Creative Collective, a web development and business automation agency that has generated millions of dollars in revenue and helped hundreds of clients since it’s inception, despite the challenges of her disability. VCC is best known for their unique VIP ‘website in a day’ offering.
Her bestselling memoir, Don’t Snooze Your Dreams: Lessons from Life with Narcolepsy, has topped charts in Canada and the United States. Recognized as one of the youngest winners of Ottawa’s Forty Under 40, Michelle has shared her stories and insights on CTV Your Morning, CBC Marketplace and You Can’t Ask That.
She travels the world alongside her Great Dane service dog Quinn, inspiring audiences to transform perceived limitations into opportunities for growth. Michelle is known for her ability to bring clarity to complex problems and help others move forward with confidence and intention.
“Limits aren’t the end of your story. They’re the leverage to write a better one.”
Bethelene Hart
Expert Early Childhood Educator, Award winning speaker and Author
Markdale, Ontario, Canada
Founder of Parenting By Hart. A speaker and workshop facilitator. Bethelene is a Parenting & Childcare Expert with over 30 years of experience supporting families, educators, and schools. Ms. Hart is a Child and Family Behaviour Specialist and Author of 2 Children's Books that teach emotional literacy.
Beth helps raise confident emotionally healthy kids-by showing up with heart. She empower educators, caregivers and parents by providing the tools required to foster meaningful interactions with children which helps them thrive.
Bethelene is the mother of 4 grown children.
"The greatest gift we can give children and adults is validating their feelings and experience."
Rimshah Ahmed
Keynote Speaker, Public Speaking Educator, Mental Health & Human Rights Advocate
Milton, Ontario, Canada
Rimshah is a bold and distinctive voice in the world of public speaking, spoken word, and advocacy. As a neurodivergent artist, mother of three, and champion for equity and mental health, she brings raw honesty, resilience, and grace to every stage she steps on.
From the TEDxOntarioPublicService stage to Speaker Slam, where she earned 3rd place in a North America-wide competition, Rimshah’s storytelling cuts through noise and speaks directly to the heart. She’s been featured on CBC Radio and Global News for her work in neurodiversity advocacy, and has performed across Canada at venues such as OCAD University’s Feminist Art Conference and Workman Arts’ Being Heard.
Whether delivering poetry, powerful keynote speeches, or leading transformative programs, Rimshah centres those who are often overlooked. Her mission is clear: to shift minds, ignite hope, and elevate stories that demand to be told.
In all she does, Rimshah merges vulnerability with vision, proving that lived experience is not a setback but it’s a source of unstoppable strength.
"Every time I raise my voice, I’m not recounting the past; I’m reshaping someone’s future."
Pat Doyle
Father, Entrepreneur, storyteller, community builder
Pickering, Ontario, Canada
For over 30 years, Pat Doyle has understood that a company’s greatest asset isn’t its products or services—it’s its people. A true believer in the power of connection, Pat has dedicated his career to fostering team spirit, shared vision, and workplace cultures where everyone feels valued.
As the driving force behind Moments That Matter, Pat and his team use branded merchandise not just as giveaways, but as catalysts for meaningful experiences. These aren’t just corporate gifts—they're symbols of recognition, unity, and celebration. When people feel seen and appreciated, even the most routine workdays can become moments of inspiration.
Beyond the workplace, Pat is passionate about building strong communities where recognition fuels motivation and success is measured by the depth of connection. He believes that when teams truly align, they create something greater than the sum of their parts—a culture that lifts everyone higher.
Charles Achampong
Charles Achampong is a bestselling author and award-winning keynote speaker who teaches leaders and teams how to harness the power of pause, not just as a wellness tool, but as a performance strategy. With over 20 years of leadership experience across business, government, and philanthropy, he’s led initiatives with organizations like the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Committee, Scotiabank, and the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
His bestselling book, Around the World in Family Days, was inspired by a year-long global sabbatical with his wife and daughters. Through that journey, Charles uncovered how intentional pauses fuel clarity, resilience, and what he calls failure immunity, the ability to recover faster and stronger from setbacks.
Known for his humour, heart, and practical wisdom, Charles helps ambitious professionals stop running on empty and start working, leading, and living with more impact and purpose.
"In an age of constant noise, pausing is the loudest statement you can make."
Vivian Meraki
Parenting Expert, Founder of Unshakable Parenting, Award-winning Human Connection Speaker
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Vivian Meraki is a parenting expert, best-selling author, and award-winning keynote speaker who helps parents and leaders create the secure connections that become their true legacy. With over 20 years of leadership experience spanning health-tech startups, Fortune 500 companies, and global organizations including the United Nations, Vivian has built and led high-performing teams while driving campaigns for some of the world’s most recognized brands.
Her debut book, Parenting Through Divorce, became a best-seller for its compassionate and practical approach to raising emotionally resilient children during family transitions, and is referred to by family therapists and caregivers alike. Vivian has been featured on Breakfast Television, CTV Your Morning, and CP24, sharing her expertise with national audiences.
After walking through burnout and a complete life reset, Vivian now works as a certified somatic, trauma-informed coach—helping others rewrite the patterns they once inherited. Her mission is to help families and leaders break generational cycles and build emotional legacies rooted in presence, trust, and connections that last.
"“You don’t have to be perfect to leave a powerful legacy. You have to be present.”
Aanchal Vash
Mental Health Speaker, High Performance Wellness Expert, Author of Ongoing Success and Wellbeing
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Aanchal Vash is a High-Performance Wellness Expert, Philanthropist, and Mental Health Speaker whose work has empowered thousands of people across Canada and abroad. After losing her older brother to malaria and her twin brother to suicide, she founded Reach Out Together, a registered Canadian nonprofit that has trained over 1,500 people in Mental Health First Aid, distributed survival kits to unhoused communities across Toronto, Lagos, and Mumbai, and united volunteers on four continents through outreach programs.
As a philanthropist, she has launched initiatives such as the Show Up for Humanity Campaign, the Team Together mental well-being challenge series, the annual World Reach Out Together Day, and the Canada’s Top Mental Health Advocate Awards, which celebrate and amplify the work of grassroots leaders and innovators in mental health across the country.
Beyond her nonprofit, Aanchal is the author of five bestselling books, including Ongoing Success and Wellbeing, which reached eight bestseller lists. She is also an award-winning inspirational speaker, recognized at North America’s largest inspirational speaking competition, Speaker Slam, where her powerful storytelling has inspired diverse audiences. Her expertise has been featured on CBC, SiriusXM, Yahoo Finance, Omni News, Thrive Global, and Women Entrepreneur India, and she has spoken at platforms including EmpowerCON at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the International Peace Festival, and Grief Awareness Week UK.
Recognized among Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 Emerging Leaders for Social Impact and named one of the Top 10 Indian Women Leaders in Canada, Aanchal has received the EXPY® Award, the Community Development Award at the University of Toronto, and the Quilly® Award from the National Association of Bestselling Authors.
In her spare time, Aanchal is a certified Muay Thai coach who trains and empowers people to build confidence, resilience, and strength—both mentally and physically.
"Adversity doesn’t define you. Your recovery plan does, and that plan becomes the legacy you leave behind."
Robert Alexander
Finance and Business Executive, Executive Leader, Entrepreneur, Aspiring Coach
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Robert Alexander is a dynamic Finance and Business Executive whose multifaceted passions span leadership, finance, fitness, and fashion. With a strong foundation in corporate strategy and financial management, Robert has built a reputation for driving growth, fostering innovation, and inspiring those around him to reach their full potential.
Beyond the boardroom, Robert is deeply committed to personal development and living a well-rounded, purpose-driven life. He approaches everything he does—whether it's leading a team, closing a deal, hitting the gym, or expressing his unique sense of style—with passion, integrity, joy, excellence, and love.
Inga Tkachenko Ramage
Public speaker, road safety advocate, and co-founder of Inga Educate
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Inga Tkachenko Ramage is a public speaker, road safety advocate, and founder of a movement that’s changing lives. A survivor of a serious car crash, she turned her personal trauma into a powerful mission: to prevent accidents, educate communities, support victims, and help families rebuild after collisions.
She is the co-founder of INGA EDUCATES, a not-for-profit organization that empowers newcomers to Canada, families with children, cyclists, and pedestrians through road safety education and trauma-informed recovery programs.
With 17 years of experience supporting accident victims, Inga understands firsthand the fear, confusion, and deep loneliness people often feel after a collision. In 2011, she was cut out of her car by first responders after being trapped inside following a T-bone collision — a moment that changed everything and set her on a new path. That trauma became the catalyst for her life’s work.
In just one year, Inga Educates mobilized 150+ volunteers, organized 15+ major community events and distributed more than 1,250 free helmets to the public. Inga and her team have also helped over 20,000 accident survivors through her multidisciplinary clinic, Prime Health Care, offering support in every stage of recovery — from physical rehabilitation to emotional care.
Originally from Ukraine, Inga immigrated to Canada at 16 solo and graduated from the University of Waterloo with a double degree. She is a proud mother of three and a founding member of Immigrant Women in Business (IWB).
Her work has received national and international recognition: In 2023, she was awarded the Award of Excellence in Healthcare by Elgon International. In 2024, she received the Motivator Award by Meet the Motivators. In 2025, she received the Philanthropist Award from the International Women’s Achievers Awards
Inga’s messages are urgent and clear: Road safety doesn’t happen by accident! Most collisions are preventable! No one should be left behind!
@inga_tkachenko_ramage
Jenni Cathcart
Award-winning Speaker and Innovation Catalyst
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Jenni Cathcart is an award-winning speaker and CEO of Lead Boldly, a consultancy that helps Fortune 500 companies scale innovation and effective change management to drive long-term growth. Jenni’s proven approach transforms employees into innovation catalysts and supports senior leaders in creating a culture where innovation thrives.
Over the past 20 years, Jenni honed her innovation and change management expertise working with Fortune 500 companies in financial services, insurance, energy and transportation.
Jenni holds an MBA from UC-Berkeley and an undergraduate degree from UW-Madison. She is an ICF-certified coach and certified change manager.
