Powerful Panels Blog

January 14, 2026
What the Skift Meetings Megatrends 2026 Report Means for Panel Discussions

What the Skift Meetings Megatrends 2026 Report Means for Panel Discussions

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
This Year, Let’s Make Panels the Best Part of the Event

This Year, Let’s Make Panels the Best Part of the Event

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
Stop Apologizing for Bad Panels

Stop Apologizing for Bad Panels

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
What to Do When a Client Wants to Add a Last-Minute Panelist

What to Do When a Client Wants to Add a Last-Minute Panelist

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
How to Measure the ROI of a Panel Discussion

How to Measure the ROI of a Panel Discussion

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
How to Handle a Completely Inappropriate Remark during a Panel Discussion

How to Handle a Completely Inappropriate Remark during a Panel Discussion

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 Secret to a Truly Lively Panel Frame Questions for Conversation, Not Answers

The Secret to a Truly Lively Panel: Frame Questions for Conversation, Not Answers

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
How Panel Moderators Can Rescue the Room: 5 Fast Moves to Re-Energize Any Panel Discussion

How Panel Moderators Can Rescue the Room: 5 Fast Moves to Re-Energize Any Panel Discussion

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
top-panel-topics

Powerful Panels Top 10 Trending Topics for Panel Discussions – Q4 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
How to Prompt ChatGPT to Develop Awesome Questions for a Panel Discussion

How to Prompt ChatGPT to Develop Awesome Questions for a Panel Discussion

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
The Unsung Hero The Emcee’s Role in Teeing Up and Transitioning a Panelr

The Unsung Hero: The Emcee’s Role in Teeing Up and Transitioning a Panel

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
Seven Essential Skills of an Effective Panel Moderator

Seven Essential Skills of an Effective Panel Moderator

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
The Rookie Panel Moderator Mistake That Made Me Cringe

The Rookie Panel Moderator Mistake That Made Me Cringe

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 […]
October 8, 2025
7 Tips for Seamless Collaboration Between Event Emcees and Panel Moderators

7 Tips for Seamless Collaboration Between Event Emcees and Panel Moderators

In a previous post, we explored how the event emcee and the panel moderator shape the audience’s experience in very different ways. In this post, let’s […]
September 30, 2025
Passing the Mic: How Event Emcees and Panel Moderators Can Shine Together

Passing the Mic: How Event Emcees and Panel Moderators Can Shine Together

When it comes to creating a seamless, engaging conference experience, two roles often get confused: the event emcee and the panel moderator. Both serve as “hosts” […]
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