Five Toastmasters were advanced to the 2024 Roche Speaking World Cup contest, and five fantastic speeches were delivered from Roche Toastmaster Clubs across the globe. Watch the speeches HERE!
“A wise man speaks because he has something to say, a fool speaks because he has to say something.”
- Plato
2024 World Cup Champion: Sana Qalbani, Roche MVPs Toastmasters Club, Mississauga, ON, CA
Sana is a Service Delivery Manager who joined Roche in March. Since her arrival, she has been at the forefront of leading the operational teams, ensuring the seamless delivery of support and services to the business and end users. Her work focuses on critical systems such as the Laboratory Execution System, used for analytical testing in Quality Control laboratories, as well as Enterprise Content Management and various other IT systems and applications.
Sana is not merely responsible for overseeing service delivery; she exemplifies leadership by guiding her teams and cultivating a culture of excellence. Her approach goes beyond technical expertise; she is passionate about fostering collaboration and empowering her teams to exceed expectations. A firm believer in the value of building strong, enduring relationships, Sana takes great pleasure in engaging with people and creating lasting connections through effective communication, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to success. She also believes that true success is shaped not only by outcomes but also by the people who drive those outcomes, and she is committed to creating a lasting impact in every project and interaction.
2024 World Cup Runner-up: Lawrence McKinney, Genentech Toastmasters Club, South San Francisco, CA, USA
Lawrence joined Toastmasters in February 2024 and currently works as a Program Manager in Genentech Research and Early Development (gRED), supporting breast and prostate cancer programs. He holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences and a Master of Public Health from Morehouse School of Medicine. Joining Genentech Toastmasters has helped Lawrence overcome his fear of public speaking, making him a more effective and impactful speaker and communicator in both his professional and personal life. Outside of work, Lawrence enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, experiencing new cultures through food and art, and has been a professional DJ for over 10 years and a podcaster. Being new to the Bay Area has provided Lawrence with opportunities to explore and make an impact on his community.
2024 World Cup 3rd Place: Josh Storm, Roche Desert Toastmasters Club, Tucson, AZ, USA
2024 World Cup Finalist: Kelvin Johnson, Roche Bay Area Toastmasters Club, Santa Clara, CA, USA
2024 World Cup Finalist: Alicia Baker, Roche Indy Toastmasters Club, Indianapolis, IN, USA