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A few years ago, I started noticing something strange after attending conferences and keynote sessions. I couldn’t remember most of the slides. I forgot many of the frameworks. Sometimes, I even forgot the topic itself. But I remembered how certain speakers made me feel. I remembered the speaker who made the room feel hopeful. The one who made me pause and reflect. The one who made me feel seen. And that made me wonder: What if the real influence of a speaker is not in the content they deliver, but in the emotional residue they leave behind? That thought led me to a concept I now call Emotional Aftertaste™. Psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus introduced something called the Forgetting Curve. His research showed that people forget information rapidly after hearing it. In fact, a large percentage of content disappears from memory within the first 24 to 48 hours unless it is reinforced emotionally or repeatedly. That explains why so many talks are heard, appreciated, applauded… and forgotten. Because the human brain is not designed to store words easily. It stores emotion more deeply. And that changes the way I think about speaking. Today, before I design a keynote or workshop, I ask myself a different question. Not: “What do I want people to learn?” But: “What do I want people to feel after I leave the stage?” Because influence beyond stage begins there. I would like to introduce a simple framework I call EMA: Emotion. Meaning. Action. First comes Emotion. Before people remember your insight, they need to emotionally connect with it. Stories, vulnerability, silence, honesty, humor, tension—these create emotional entry points into memory. Then comes Meaning. Emotion without meaning fades quickly. Great speakers help audiences make sense of what they are feeling. They connect emotion to an insight, a realization, or a shift in perspective And finally comes Action. A talk creates transformation only when something changes after the audience leaves the room. A conversation. A decision. A new level of courage. A different way of leading. That is real impact. The more I observe great speakers, the more I realize they do this intentionally. They don’t just transfer information. They shape emotional experiences. Because people may forget your statistics. They may forget your slides. They may even forget your exact words. But they rarely forget how they felt in your presence. And that feeling becomes your influence long after the microphone is switched off. That is real impact. The more I observe great speakers, the more I realize they do this intentionally. They don’tjust transfer information. They shape emotional experiences.Because people may forget your statistics.They may forget your slides.They may even forget your exact words.But they rarely forget how they felt in your presence.And that feeling becomes your influence long after the microphone is switched off. Author KAVINA ELAVARASAN

When people think about professional speaking, they often imagine the spotlight, the applause, and the stage. But over the years, I’ve realized that true influence rarely ends when the microphone is switched off. The real impact of a speaker begins after the session. I have spoken in boardrooms, colleges, leadership forums, and emotional mastery workshops. Yet, the moments that stay with me are not standing ovations. They are the quiet messages received days later: “Your words made me call my father.”“I paused before reacting in anger.”“Your session stayed with me for weeks.” Sometimes, the messages come from women saying, “My husband attended your session and started working on his anger.”“He pauses before reacting now.”“Your message resonated deeply with him and changed the environment at home.” Those messages remind me that influence is not limited to the audience sitting in front of us. It travels into homes, relationships, workplaces, and conversations we may never witness. In my journey, especially while working with men, leaders, and entrepreneurs through the SPR™ framework, I have learned that authenticity influences more than performance ever can. Audiences may forget slides and statistics, but they remember honesty, vulnerability, and emotional connection.A speaker’s true legacy is not measured by how loudly the audience claps.It is measured by what changes when they return home. Author Dr. Saurabh Patil

I began to hear of the APSS soon after joining PSAI in 2020. There would be references during talks of something new, exciting, and seminal. It took a while to deconstruct APSS to mean Asia Professional Speakers Singapore. However, it took some time to enroll with APSS as a member. The APSS Digital Convention 2021 showed me conclusively what masterful presentations could achieve. John Sanei’s ‘Singularity Expertise’ and Vernice ‘Flygirl’ Armour’s ‘Master Flight Briefing’ took permanent residence in my head. I followed this up with the Alumni Membership of the Speakers Academy that I attended in 2021. So, I registered eagerly when the APSS Convention 2022 was announced on the 27th of May (In-person) and 28th of May (Virtual). And what a conference it was! The SPEAKERVERSE! The convention was designed to offer both the convenience of the digital world and the cozy connections of physical meetings. The two-day convention featured authoritative professionals using technology, mixed reality, and pandemic-prompted strategies to scale up their speaking game and inspire others to lift off their careers. There were four different universes of expertise on offer in this SpeakerVerse: The program architecture aimed to address the art of professional speaking on any platform. There were Trishal and Elizabeth on the Future Trends and How to Get Radical about it, Nathan Shooter on how to Create a Stunning Speaker Showreel, and Marlee Jayme on how to Break the Unbreakable Glass Ceiling. I was so taken in by Arthur Carmazzi’s talk on Speakers and NFTs in The New Metaverse that I joined the community as a member and quickly learned to set up a crypto wallet.  Moments of epiphany abounded. There was a heart-to-heart with Amanda Lambros of Professional Speakers Australia on grief counseling. There was an intense connection on generational issues with Vivek Iyyani, the Millenial Speaker. There was this absolutely candid conversation with Cindi Wirawan, the Millennial Career Coach. Sparks of inspiration, emotion, and elation! Those hugs with Cathy Johnson and Tanvi Gautam, and Anupama Singal. The incredible hospitality of Kenneth Kwan and Avni Martin. And finally, the flocking to Neera Gupta, sister of our very own Asootosh Kant. Three of us represented the PSAI at this convention. Chander Sharma, Lokesh Rajendrababu, and I all wore our PSAI badges with pride. We displayed our books, shared Himalaya Koflets, and took copious notes. The conference was about new ideas, breakthrough momentum, and potent energy. But most of all, it was about the people. It is always about the people! Neerja Singh President, PSAI (2021-22)