5 Questions With Saby Sengupta

This month we’re talking to Sabyasachi “Saby” Sengupta, 2025 World Champion of Public Speaking. Saby shares insights on speechwriting and topic selection to help members from the club level to the world stage.

What is the first thing you do when you sit down to write a speech?

I write the bullet points of the speech and then start with the middle and ending. The opening at the very end.

What’s your best tip for coming up with a great story or topic to share?

My friend Percy told me that speeches centered around careers, jobs, or studies generally don’t perform very well … because of the limitations of time.

You only have seven minutes, and a lot of that time gets spent building context: the situation, the background, and then the problem. On top of that, not everyone in the audience can relate to issues like not getting into a college, getting fired, or missing out on a promotion—experiences that are often heavily influenced by cultural context, and unless you take time to explain that context, the emotional impact can be lost.

How do you know when you’ve found a great speech topic?

It really comes down to trying it out in front of a live audience and paying attention to their reactions. There’s no better proof that a speech works than the audience’s response. The moment I deliver it live and see how people react—that’s when I know whether the speech truly has merit or not.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given or discovered for yourself around speechwriting?

Never start with the opening. Best openings happen when the story and closing are locked in.

Which part of the speech is the most challenging for you to write and how do you conquer it?

For me, the conclusion is the hardest part to write. It’s where you want the speech to become memorable. It’s also your best chance to make the story universal. A strong conclusion brings the audience into the story in a way that feels natural, meaningful, and lasting. That’s why the conclusion matters so much—it’s what people remember, what they resonate with, and what they can actually apply in their own lives.

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