Speakers Share Stories, Raise Funds At 'Drop The Mic Night' In Stamford

STAMFORD, CT — Ten aspiring speakers, ranging in age from high school students to adults in their 60s, took the stage June 18 at CoCreate Stamford during "Drop the Mic Night," sharing personal stories centered on the theme "Becoming" before a full audience while raising nearly $5,000 for Next Girl Up, a nonprofit focused on developing female leaders.

Drop the Mic Night was created to provide aspiring speakers with a live audience, a public stage and professional coaching. Participants are selected through an application process, and receive complimentary coaching and feedback before their presentations.

Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons opened the event with remarks and encouragement for participants. She shared a story about losing her first student government election and the fears and anxieties she experienced around public speaking.

"If you mess up, just keep going!" Simmons told participants, according to a news release.

The event included inspiring presentations, food, beverages, entertainment and community-building activities, with proceeds supporting Next Girl Up programs focused on confidence, creativity, financial literacy, entrepreneurship and leadership development.

Each participant delivered a five-minute presentation before a panel of judges and audience members.

The 2026 winners, all from Stamford, were:

• First Place: Juliet Bodley - "Becoming Is Remaining"
• Second Place: Aila Flynn - "The Hero's Journey" (AITE student)
• Third Place: Anton Lando - "Be Yourself - Weirdness and All" (AITE student)
• Audience Favorite: Leslie Kumar - "The Swan Wasn't The Point"

"Drop The Mic Night isn't just about public speaking—it's about giving people the confidence to own their voice and discover what's possible when they share their story," said Shannon Malkin Daniels, founder of Drop The Mic Night and owner of SPEAC Success, in a news release. "Every speaker stepped onto that stage with courage, and every person in the audience became part of something truly meaningful."

In addition to the winners, other speakers included Lynai Mufungizi of Stamford; Trish Havey of Greenwich; Ritu Ajmera of East Williston, NY; Jessica Alzate of Port Chester, NY; Mary Dobson of Westport; and Chandni Thawani of Stamford.

One of the highlights of the event came when Ajmera was introduced by her daughter, Sunidhi, the October 2025 champion, before taking the stage.

SPEAC Success, founded in 2015 by TEDx speaker Shannon Malkin Daniels, provides communication coaching and training for entrepreneurs, professionals and organizations.

Drop the Mic Night was founded in 2024 by Daniels and is presented by SPEAC Success. Each event partners with a local nonprofit organization to raise funds and awareness while providing aspiring speakers an opportunity to share their stories.