Speaker Slam®, North America’s largest inspirational speaking competition, has announced Patti Bevilacqua as the second-place winner at its third competition of the 2025 season.
Held at Lula Lounge in Toronto on May 27, the competition theme was “The Power of No,” and Patti’s moving speech, “Take the Pen!” captured the hearts of both the judges and audience, earning her a spot at the prestigious Grand Slam – The Inspirational Speaking Finals.
Patti is a PhD, TEDx speaker, bestselling author, and MS warrior who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis just five months into her dream job as a high school phys-ed teacher. Her career came to an unexpected halt, but rather than give up, Patti chose to rewrite her story.
Her speech powerfully explored how life’s biggest setbacks can become turning points and how the word “no” became the spark for reclaiming her voice and purpose.
“No didn’t break me—it handed me the pen,” Patti shared on stage. “I thought I had lost everything, but that ‘no’ gave me permission to write a new story. And I want others to know they can too.”
From MS Diagnosis to Empowerment: Patti’s Rise as a Voice for Chronic Illness Warriors Patti’s journey is one of resilience and reinvention. After walking away from teaching, she endured rejection after rejection. But rather than be crushed by the weight of ‘no,’ she used it to rise. In her speech, she detailed the journey that followed: earning her PhD, standing on the TEDx stage, co-authoring bestselling books, and becoming a leading voice in the chronic illness community.
“I’m not just surviving MS, I’m thriving with it. And I want to help others do the same.”
“Patti’s voice is so needed in today’s world especially for those living with chronic illness. Her courage, vulnerability, and authenticity lit up the stage. She’s a role model, and we’re honored to have her represent the Speaker Slam community at the Inspirational Speaking Finals” said Dan Shaikh, Co-Founder of Speaker Slam.
2025 placings
- 1st Place – Vivian Meraki (Toronto, ON) Parenting Expert | Speech: “The Power of Knowing” Vivian shared a powerful message about teaching children emotional trust by modeling it as parents.
- 2nd Place – Patti Bevilacqua (Grand Fork, BC) Chronic Illness Advocate & Inspirational Speaker | Speech: “Take the Pen!” Patti shared her story of receiving an MS diagnosis five months into her dream teaching job—and how she transformed that ‘no’ into a powerful new beginning.
- 3rd Place – Ivan Fredette (Niagara Falls, ON) Leadership Expert & Serial Entrepreneur | Speech: “The Power of No More” Ivan shared the raw moment he chose life over suicide—and how it led to founding Ironclad Brotherhood, a movement helping men live with purpose, sobriety, and accountability.
Speaker Slam®, based in downtown Toronto, offers a platform for everyday people to share their stories with a live audience. The competition features five themed qualifiers each year, where 10 speakers deliver powerful 5-minute speeches in front of industry judges. The top two contestants from each event move on to the Grand Slam.
What’s Next for Patti?
Patti Bevilacqua advances to the Grand Slam – The Inspirational Speaking Finals on November 22, 2025, at CBC’s Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, where she’ll compete with the year’s top speakers for a prize package valued up to $50,000, a book deal with Lucky Book Publishing and the title of Inspirational Speaker of the Year.
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