India, May 31 -- Emily draws blood first!" auctioneer Phyllis Kao calls out, referring to an early bid of $3.8 million, relayed by a Sotheby's staffer. It's July 2024, and she is at the helm of a live event built around a stegosaurus fossil named Apex; a rare, 27-ft-long skeleton dated to about 150 million years ago. She stands poised, one hand on the rostrum and the other swaying in the air between bidders, a bit like an orchestra conductor. It's unusual to hear names at an auction, but this has become part of Kao's trademark style. It puts the room at greater ease, and makes those dialling in from far away feel more directly included. "A cool $5 million from Cassandra," she smiles, minutes later. Then she turns and locks eyes with someone...