On a Beverly Hills afternoon, the historic Saban Theatre became more than a venue; it became a proving ground.

Eighteen speakers stood backstage with entrepreneurs, innovators, founders, and thought leaders, each carrying a message sharpened for impact. Outside, cameras flashed across the red carpet. Inside, five celebrity judges prepared to evaluate not just performance, but presence, clarity, and authority.

This was WILDx.

Founded by global media strategist Rhonda Swan and entrepreneur and speaker Jules Schroeder, WILDx has positioned itself as a new model for modern influence, blending stage mastery with media credibility and long-term authority building.

A New Model for the Modern Speaker

The traditional speaker circuit rewards charisma. WILDx rewards clarity, positioning, and strategic visibility.

Each of the 18 selected speakers delivered a concise, high-impact talk designed not only to inspire, but to establish category leadership. From financial empowerment to wellness innovation and conscious entrepreneurship, the diversity of voices reflected a marketplace hungry for depth and authenticity.

But what differentiates WILDx is what happens beyond applause.

The platform integrates a visibility strategy into its foundation. Speakers are coached not only on storytelling but on how their message translates into media alignment, digital discoverability, and sustained authority.

In today’s world, credibility is validated online before it is validated in person. WILDx was designed with that understanding.

A Panel of Impact-Driven Celebrities 

Presiding over the evening was a distinguished panel of celebrity judges whose careers reflect mastery of influence:

• Berké Brown – Event Host, International Keynote Speaker, and Behavioral Researcher. Founder of BBI Coaching & Consulting LLC.
• Joelle Flynn – Shark Tank Winner, Inventor & Founder of FIRE (Female Inventors & Rising Entrepreneurs)
• Marie Diamond – Best-selling Author, Renowned Speaker, Star of The Secret
• Hazel Ortega – Best-selling Author and Philanthropist, Founder of Manifest University
• Donald Knips – Director Of Strategic Partnerships – Local and National Brands, USA Today Co.
• Thom Beers – 3x Emmy Award Winning Producer 

Each judge offered direct, 30-second feedback to every speaker, elevating the experience into real-time refinement rather than performance alone.

Voices From the WILDx Stage

The true measure of the platform’s success came from the speakers themselves.

After the final deliberation, the judges selected Karen Romine, Corporate Strategist, Psychic Medium, and Decision Advisor, who helps guide high-stakes decisions using strategy, data, and intuitive intelligence, and Kale Ka’alekahi, Co-Founder of Sacred Sons CPO, CEO of N.O.W., and President of Makoa Quest.

The audience then had the opportunity to vote. After several ties, the competition ultimately came down to a dramatic rock-paper-scissors showdown, with Karen Romine taking home the trophy as the winner of WILDx Axium: American Idol for Speakers.

Quote from Karen about WILDx

“WILDx put me in a room where the producers, the judges, and every speaker on that stage were fully committed to each other’s success, and that energy lifted all of us higher than we knew we could go. I came to grow, and I left with a win.”

Quote from Kale about WILDx

“WILDx was a reminder that the sharing of Indigenous wisdom is so needed for our society to make changes for our future generations, and that the real work requires strong voices and people who are willing to be honest and vulnerable.”

Credibility Is the New Currency

At the core of WILDx is a simple but powerful philosophy:

Credibility equals currency.

Visibility without positioning fades. Influence without infrastructure collapses. WILDx was created to bridge that gap, transforming speakers into sustained authorities.

Jules Schroeder brings the magnetism of performance. Rhonda Swan brings the architecture of media and credibility. Together, they are building more than events; they are building platforms.

A Movement in Motion

By the time the final winner was announced inside the Saban Theatre, the shift was undeniable.

This was not simply a competition.

It was the launch of 18 expanded brands.

WILDx exists to elevate voices ready for national relevance, merging stage presence with media authority and long-term strategic positioning.

Because today, the most powerful stage is not just the one under the spotlight.

It is the one that continues long after the lights go down.

And WILDx is building exactly that.

WILDx 4: VOLTARA is set for October 1st at the Saban Theater, and following the event, a So-Cal Media tour will commence filming for the Hollywood Minute & The Wake Up So-Cal shows, then culminating in San Diego at the FOX5 & KUSI studios