NEWS RELEASE
SPEAKER SLAM
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Lindsey Mazza, a lawyer, disability advocate, and leadership speaker from Grimsby, Ontario, will take the stage at Speaker Slam, North America’s largest inspirational speaking competition, on March 25, 2025, at Lula Lounge in Toronto.
This event, titled No Risk, No Reward, is the second competition of the year in a five-part series leading up to the Grand Slam: Inspirational Speaking Finals in November. Ten powerful speakers will take the stage to share deeply personal stories of risk, resilience, and transformation. Contestants will compete for a prize package worth up to $10,000, including $2,000 cash, and a coveted spot at The Grand Slam Finals later this year.
For Lindsey, the theme of taking risks is deeply personal. Born with Holt-Oram Syndrome, a rare genetic condition affecting the heart and upper limbs, Lindsey has been overcoming obstacles since childhood. She was denied accommodations on her LSAT exam, faced a legal profession resistant to change, and had to fight harder than most to succeed. But rather than let these barriers define her, she built a thriving legal career and is now using her voice to champion leadership, inclusion, and self-advocacy.
“For most of my life, I stayed quiet about my disability,” says Lindsey. “I believed that to succeed, I had to fit in rather than stand out. But my greatest strength has always been the thing I tried to hide. Competing at Speaker Slam is my way of showing others that the biggest risk we can take is betting on ourselves.”
Dan Shaikh, Co-Founder of Speaker Slam, shared his thoughts on Lindsey’s impact:
“Lindsey’s story is about never backing down. From a kid who had to fight for every opportunity to a lawyer now stepping onto one of the biggest speaking stages in North America, she’s proof that believing in yourself can change everything. Her voice is one the world needs to hear.”
For more information about the speakers and the event, click here.
- Lindsey Mazza – Grimsby, Ontario, Canada.
- Jessica Spence – Gloucester, Ontario, Canada.
- Herbert Fong – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
- Shannon Talbot – Ancaster, Ontario, Canada.
- Sofranie Trencia – Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Vaishali Joshi – North York, Ontario, Canada.
- Charles Achampong – Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Aanchal Vash – Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Carlyn Morris – Dowagiac, Michigan, United States.
- Pat Doyle – Pickering, Ontario, Canada.
For more information about the judges and prizes, click here.
- Stephanie Lui-Valentim – Co-Founder & CEO of Quell Agency – York, Ontario, Canada.
- Jay Wong – CEO of Podcast Your Brand – Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Steve Lowell – Master Trainer to High-Impact Speakers – Manotick, Ontario, Canada.
- Theresa Beenken – CEO of National Speakers Bureau – Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Event Details:
- Date: March 25
- Time: 6 p.m.
- Location: Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas Street West, Toronto, M6J 1T9
- Tickets: Available at www.speakerslam.org/events
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