Interview with Simon Gibson

Ahmad Fakhri, my co-author was originally scheduled to meet Simon Gibson in person in the UK, with me joining via Zoom. However, due to the war in Iran, we were obliged to shift the meeting to a fully online format with all three of us attending virtually. 

The April 08 interview with the founder of World Speech Day was part of our research for an upcoming third book (tentatively titled "The Rubycon in Your Speaking Journey).

Launched at the Athens Democracy Forum in 2015, Gibson created the initiative to celebrate speeches and public speaking, specifically by providing a platform for "unexpected voices" – everyday people with ideas for a better world – rather than just politicians, celebrities or corporate personalities. 

Today, he can take pride at this accomplishment because World Speech Day is now held annually, celebrating the power of speeches and the spoken word through live, streamed, and virtual events in over 100 countries every March 15. And other dates too.

[FYI, ever since our 2019 debut, World Speech Day Kuala Lumpur has grown from strength to strength]. 

Like the other two (Singapore's Dr Ernest Chen and Mongolia's Dr Ganchimeg Zagdaa) whom we interviewed in October 2025, Gibson has been a revelation. It really affirms my belief that public speakers can influence, impact, and inspire. 

A speaker who positions himself not as the hero, but as the learner who found the lesson, keeping him relatable, engaged and connected. And that's what sets him apart from the others! 

Simon Gibson is, indeed, in a class of his own.

World Speech Day 2026 Kuala Lumpur

This is our 8th year of organising and hosting World Speech Day Kuala Lumpur! 

This 2026 edition was held on Sunday at YMCA Kuala Lumpur.

A total of 30 participants registered for the said occasion. I’ll come right out and say it, the speeches made it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ speaking event! 

As TED curator Chris Anderson suggests, a speaker’s primary task is to give the audience a "strange and beautiful object" called an idea. Speeches are the medium through which these life-changing gifts are delivered. Speeches are transformative.

Photos from 2026's WSD-KL:

#unexpectedvoices #worldspeechday

World Speech Day Videos: 2026 Viewership Update

My very last World Speech Day video viewership update was published ten-and-a-half months ago. 

This time, we're featuring the Top 70 from our YouTube channel "WSD with CV Plus" – as tagged  under "Popular" – given that there are already sixty-two videos that have accumulated at least a thousand views. And nine of the said videos have even collected more than 3,000 views! 

Check out our latest updates – the viewerships are correct as at 05:30 PM Malaysian time on March 14, the eve of World Speech Day:

01 (01) Karyn Yadlyn, WSD 2021 JB – 6096 views (6001) 
02 (02) Sanjanaa Kanthan, WSD 2021 JB – 5906 views (5784) 
03 (03) Amirah – 4308 views (4240) 
04 (04) Velleny Jivel Jinau, WSD 2021 KL – 4294 views (4230) 
05 (06) Simon Gibson (UK) – 3812 views (3608) 
06 (05) Karan Z’vyr – 3771 views (3719) 
07 (07) Vellvie Jivel Jinau – 3401 views (3333) 
08 (09) Jamilah Samian, WSD 2023 IWD – 3150 views (2965) 
09 (08) Ahmad Fakhri, WSD 2021 KL – 3141 views (2980) 
10 (10) Rohijas Md Sharif – 2926 views (2910) 
11 (11) Smyra Z’ryn Kaur Virik, WSD 2021 JB – 2901 views (2790) 
12 (12) Christal Wong – 2759 views (2738) 
13 (13) Vyshnavi Thiageswaran – 2562 views (2486) 
14 (14) Ni Putu Ayu Prabhasvari (Indonesia) – 2315 views (2302) 
15 (16) Michelle Fernandez (Philippines) – 2306 views (2111) 
16 (15) Santhy Dewi Pillai – 2235 views (2229) 
17 (18) Abegail Lee Ann, WSD 2022 Culture – 2130 views (1914) 
18 (17) Tashvein J Theesan – 1996 views (1981) 
19 (25) Alexandra Chryzelle Deocampo (Philippines), WSD 2021 WCD – 1975 views (1789) 
20 (19) Abegail Lee Ann, WSD 2021 KL – 1955 views (1861) 
21 (22) Nur ‘Iffah, WSD 2023 KL – 1937 views (1836) 
22 (23) Nur 'Iffah, WSD 2021 WCD – 1892 views (1820) 
23 (20) Suriya Selvam – 1869 views (1842) 
24 (21) Ooi Mei Ling – 1859 views (1840) 
25 (24) Kamalinee Gaayathri – 1828 views (1808) 
26 (27) Karyn Yadlyn, WSD 2022 QP – 1802 views (1650) 
27 (26) Sumithra Devi – 1754 views (1738) 
28 (32) Dr Ernest Chen (Singapore) – 1733 views (1612) 
29 (33) Yosshveina J Theesan, WSD 2020 KL – 1680 views (1596) 
30 (29) Kayla Amaryllis – 1678 views (1631) 
31 (28) Aiden Kee – 1651 views (1633) 
32 (31) Serene Tan – 1643 views (1616) 
33 (34) Yosshveina J Theesan, WSD 2021 KL – 1631 views (1568) 
34 (30) A Suriakumar – 1627 views (1620) 
35 (35) Chong Kai Zhen – 1544 views (1537) 
36 (36) Felicia Dorothy Roy – 1487 views (1477) 
37 (45) Sanjaana Kanthan, WSD 2022 QP – 1464 views (1282) 
38 (37) Abigael Elisah – 1457 views (1445) 
38 (47) Verginia Garcia (Philippines) – 1435 views (1269) 
40 (38) Haari Shamundiswary – 1412 views (1403) 
41 (43) Emad Ezddeen (Iran) – 1399 views (1321) 
42 (42) Aytak Ezddeen (Iran) – 1397 views (1322) 
43 (39) Chin Hui Ling – 1388 views (1382) 
44 (48) Evelou Forbes Escosia (Philippines) – 1366 views (1258) 
45 (40) Jaishivan Sivanesan – 1356 views (1343)
46 (41) Ilham Firdaus, WSD 2021 JB – 1340 views (1336) 
47 (44) Robyn Grace Leo – 1308 views (1301) 
48 (46) Chester Liam – 1289 views (1278) 
49 (54) Abegail Lee Ann, WSD 2024 KL – 1281 views (1120) 
50 (49) Jitika Kannan – 1241 views (1237) 
51 (50) Lu Rong (China) – 1239 views (1219) 
52 (51) Annie Tsen – 1211 views (1208) 
53 (52) Thanuja Kunasekaran – 1197 views (1191) 
54 (53) Sumathi Perumal – 1186 views (1179) 
55 (57) Melissa Zaiton, WSD 2024 KL – 1173 views (1077)
56 (55) K Fahri Zaakir K Faizal – 1113 views (1103) 
57 (56) Joyce Tan – 1103 views (1097) 
58 (—) Dr Zahra Moharrer (Iran), WSD KL 2024 – 1080 views (908) 
59 (58) Velleny Jivel Jinau, WSD 2021 JB – 1072 views (1066) 
60 (59) Janany Ganabatirau – 1062 views (1057) 
61 (60) Ahmad Firdaus Zhafran – 1054 views (1044) 
62 (—) Samuel Sham – 1002 views (906) 
63 (—) Haresh Thiagu – 974 views (813) 
64 (—) Sanjanaa Kanthan, WSD 2025 KL – 893 views (608) 
65 (—) Jamilah Samian, WSD 2023 KL – 829 views (755) 
66 (—) Frances Lim – 808 views (596) 
67 (—) Ahmad Fakhri, WSD 2023 KL – 677 views (569)  
68 (—) Nur Aleeya – 656 views (561) 
69 (—) Shatrughan Rao – 653 (545) 
70 (—) Ahmed Fawzy (Egypt) – 581 views (518) 

[Note: The figures in parentheses indicate the rankings and number of views from my last report published May 01, 2025 respectively].

#unexpectedvoices #worldspeechday

2nd Round of Promo WSD 2026 Posters

Over the past 6 weeks, we've released a second round of posters promoting World Speech Day 2026:

WSD 2026 Promo Campaign Starts

CV+ have begun our World Speech Day 2026 campaign! This week, we're already releasing a series of fifteen posters promoting the said event, scheduled for March 15.