The April 2026 Brand Builder Competition brings together ten finalists stepping into their thought leadership, with all of them set to pitch live in front of our judges on May 9. Meet everyone who made it to the finals.
The Top 10
Ten leaders earned their spot at the May 9 Showcase, chosen through a combination of community votes during Inspiration Week and judges’ selections. The 2026 Leaders to Watch will be crowned live at the finals.
Watch the Finals
The full broadcast goes live Saturday, May 9 at 11 AM EDT. The replay stays here after the show wraps.
Get a reminder before the broadcast goes live on May 9.
The Brand Builder Competition runs every spring and fall. Entry is free, and the stage is open to entrepreneurs, authors, speakers, and professionals ready to prove they're leaders worth following.
Enter the Competition →The Panel
A panel of industry leaders scored each finalist on positioning, presentation, and credibility.
What They Won
Three tiers. Real value. Here's what goes to the Top 3 every competition.
Brand Authority Mentorship with Keka DasGupta$4,000
Make It Clear brand strategy intensive with Andrea Reindl$3,500
90-minute Monetizing Your Personal Brand 1:1 intensive with Shawn Quintero$3,000
One-year membership to Speaker Revenue Accelerator with Marty Dickinson$500
90-minute Monetizing Your Personal Brand 1:1 intensive with Shawn Quintero$3,000
Brand Accelerator Session with Keka DasGupta$1,000
90-minute Monetizing Your Personal Brand 1:1 intensive with Shawn Quintero$3,000
Brand Spotlight Session with Keka DasGupta$500What each prize is, and who’s behind it.
A professionally produced brand video featuring the winner’s positioning and message, designed to elevate visibility for pitches, websites, and paid speaking opportunities. Produced by the Speaker Slam® team and built to be used as a calling card for years to come.
Keka has shaped brand strategies for Nike, Disney, IKEA, American Express, and Mercedes-Benz, and she’s donating a tiered offering across all three placements. Each tier is built around a specific stage of speaker brand growth and gives the winner direct access to her 25+ years of expertise.
Andrea’s signature engagement for authors and visionaries who need to translate big ideas into clear brand positioning. Built on her decade of work supporting high-performing leaders, the intensive helps you articulate what you stand for so the right audiences can find you.
A full year of access to Marty’s program for professional speakers building sustainable income from their expertise. As the “Business Longevity Guy” and CEO of 29-year growth agency Here Next Year, Marty teaches relationship-driven marketing strategies that turn speaking into a long-term business.
A focused 1:1 working session with Shawn, who’s generated millions across coaching programs, masterminds, and retreats. Walk away with a strategy for replacing hustle with infrastructure, so your personal brand grows without you having to be everywhere at once.
The Full Field
Fifty-five leaders entered the April 2026 Brand Builder Competition. Here they are, together. Each one built their positioning and declared who they are to the world.