Powerful Panels Blog
January 27, 2026
The panel discussion started strong. The moderator did exactly what a good moderator should do: set the stage, frame the topic, and establish the tone for […]
January 20, 2026
What a LinkedIn thread taught us about participation, panels, and smarter session design When Shannen Stewart posed this question on LinkedIn, “Is Q&A essential [after a […]
January 14, 2026
The Skift Meetings Megatrends 2026 report doesn’t set out to critique panel discussions, but if you read between the lines, it delivers a clear message for […]
January 5, 2026
January is a natural reset. New goals. New strategies. New commitments to doing things better. So here’s a bold commitment for meeting organizers and panel moderators […]
December 22, 2025
Warning: I’m about to go on a rant. Lately, several well-intentioned panel moderators (and even advocates of my work on elevating panel discussions) have apologized to […]
December 15, 2025
When I saw a recent LinkedIn discussion asking, “What do you do when a client wants to add a panelist at the last minute?” I grinned…because […]
December 8, 2025
Panel discussions are one of the most widely used formats at meetings, conferences, and conventions…and yet they’re also one of the least measured. Meeting organizers tell […]
December 2, 2025
You’re on stage. The conversation’s flowing. The panel is humming along… And then….GASP! One of your panelists says something totally inappropriate. Maybe it’s offensive. Maybe it’s […]
November 24, 2025
The more I study, moderate, and dissect powerful panels, the more convinced I am of one thing: Most panel questions are accidentally designed to shut down […]
November 18, 2025
Sometimes, even the best-planned panel discussion falls flat. The audience leans back instead of leaning in. Eyes glaze over. Phones come out. And as a panel […]
November 11, 2025
As we move into the final quarter of the year, panel discussions are shifting in focus. The conversation is evolving from broad waves of transformation to […]
November 9, 2025
Ever stared at a blank page, wondering what questions will make your panel pop? You’re not alone. Curating great questions is both an art and a […]
October 27, 2025
At any well-orchestrated event, the emcee is more than a timekeeper or announcer. They are the glue that holds the experience together. They connect the dots, […]
October 21, 2025
A great panel discussion doesn’t just magically happen. It is well crafted by a skilled moderator who brings out the best in panelists and delivers value […]
October 14, 2025
It was a rookie panel moderator mistake. It still makes me cringe when I think about it. Here’s what happened: I was moderating a panel for […]
