While many of us tend to prioritize the content of our initial conversations, research suggests that it may be the emotions we evoke that have a more lasting impact. The emotions felt in the first few seconds of an interaction are a key factor in the creation of a memorable first impression, and can result in a lasting impact for years to come. Join us to discover the secrets of making a lasting impression and be remembered for decades instead of mere minutes. Austin Leech started the first two years of his post-secondary career at a British University in China before transferring to CU Boulder during the pandemic. Since then, he has worked as a software developer at the Outdoor Equipment company, Matador, where he had his most important first impression. He has a passion for rock climbing, home automation, and woodworking. After finishing up his last semester at CU, Austin will go onto work in Management Consulting for Bain and Company. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx