How to Be a Great Panelist (and a Great Moderator)

To be a great panelist, prepare two or three clear points you want the audience to remember, keep every answer short and concrete, and listen to the other panelists so the conversation builds instead of repeating. A great moderator does the opposite of most moderators: speaks little, asks specific questions, keeps time and protects the audience from long monologues. Panels fail when nobody prepares because “it is just a conversation”; they succeed when everyone treats them as a talk with several speakers.

Why panels are harder than they look

A panel looks easy: no slides, a few chairs, a microphone. In practice it is one of the hardest formats to do well. Four people share 40 minutes, so each speaks for only a few minutes in total. Without preparation, panels become a series of introductions, generic agreement and one person who talks too much.

At Latin American events, panels add a few extra challenges: mixed languages on stage, interpretation that needs short sentences, and audiences who may have travelled far and expect concrete value.

For panelists: before the event

Ask the right questions

When you are invited, ask:

• What is the topic and the angle? “The future of fintech” is a theme, not an angle.
• Who else is on the panel?
• Who is the audience: beginners, practitioners, investors?
• How long is the panel, and how much time is reserved for audience questions?
• What language will it be in? Is there interpretation?
• Who is moderating, and will there be a prep call?

Prepare your points

Write down two or three ideas you want the audience to take away. For each one, prepare:

• A short statement (one sentence).
• A concrete example from your own work.
• If you use a number, its source.

This is your material. Whatever questions come, you will find a way to bring in at least one of these points.

Join the prep call

If the moderator organizes a prep call, attend it. If they do not, suggest one. A short call lets panelists:

• Agree on the questions and the order.
• Find where they disagree, which makes the panel more interesting.
• Avoid three people giving the same answer.

For panelists: on stage

1. Keep your introduction short. Name, role, and one sentence on why you are on this panel. The audience has the agenda.
2. Answer in under two minutes. Start with the point, then the example. If the moderator wants more, they will ask.
3. Be specific. “We cut onboarding time by changing one step” is better than “user experience is very important”.
4. Build on others. Refer to what another panelist said: “Building on what Ana said…” Agreement is fine, but add something new.
5. Disagree politely. Respectful disagreement is often the most valuable moment of a panel.
6. Do not pitch. Mention your company when it helps the example. The audience can tell when an answer is an advertisement.
7. Talk to the audience, not only to the moderator.
8. If you have nothing to add, say so. “I agree, nothing to add” leaves time for better answers.

Speaking through interpretation

If there is simultaneous interpretation, speak slightly slower, use short sentences and avoid jokes based on wordplay. Give the interpreters a list of technical terms before the event if you can.

For moderators: before the event

The moderator is responsible for the panel’s quality. Good moderation starts weeks before the event.

Design the panel

• Define the angle. Write one sentence that explains what the audience will learn.
• Check the panelists’ mix. Different backgrounds, companies, countries and points of view make a better conversation. Four people from similar companies agreeing with each other is a weak panel.
• Limit the size. Three or four panelists plus a moderator is usually the maximum for a standard slot.

Prepare the questions

Write specific questions, assigned to specific panelists, in an order that tells a story. A useful structure:

1. Context (one quick question for everyone, with a strict time limit).
2. Problem (questions that bring out the real challenge).
3. Experience (what each panelist did, what failed, what worked).
4. Disagreement (a question where you know views differ).
5. Advice (one concrete takeaway from each panelist).
6. Audience questions.

Share the questions with panelists in advance, but tell them you may follow up and change the order.

A prep template for moderators

Send panelists something like this a week before:

Panel: [title] Date, time, room: [details] Length: [minutes], of which [minutes] for audience questions Language: [language], interpretation: [yes/no] Angle: [one sentence on what the audience should learn] Audience: [who they are] Format: Introductions of one sentence each. No slides. Questions: 1. [Question] — [panelist] 2. [Question] — [panelist] 3. [Question] — everyone, one minute each … Prep call: [date and link] Please send: a one-line bio and the pronunciation of your name.

For moderators: on stage

• Introduce panelists yourself, in one line each, to save time.
• Ask, then step back. Your questions should be short. You are not a panelist.
• Keep time. Agree in advance on a signal, and interrupt politely when someone goes on too long: “Thank you, let’s bring in another view.”
• Balance voices. Notice who has spoken less and direct a question to them.
• Follow up. The best moments come from a second question: “Can you give an example?” or “What would you do differently?”
• Run audience questions well. Ask for questions, not speeches. Repeat the question into the microphone if the asker did not have one. Collect two or three questions at once if time is short.
• End on time, with a quick final takeaway from each panelist.

Common mistakes

Mistake	Fix
Long introductions	One sentence each, done by the moderator
Everyone answers every question	Assign questions to specific panelists
No disagreement	Plan one question where views differ
Product pitches	Ask panelists before the event to focus on experience
No time for the audience	Protect that time from the start
Moderator talks too much	Short questions, then listen

Panels and your speaking career

Panels are a good way to get on stage at a conference before you are accepted for a solo talk. Organizers often need panelists who represent different parts of the industry or different countries. If you are starting out, read how to become a conference speaker and how to write a CFP proposal, since some events also accept panel proposals through their call for papers.

After the panel, share a short post with the key points and thank the moderator and the other panelists. It extends the life of the conversation and helps the organizer promote the recording.

On BuildAConf, speakers keep a public profile in the speakers catalog, where organizers can find them and invite them to events, including panels. Speakers can also apply directly through each event’s call for papers. Learn more at buildaconf.com/para-speakers.

Frequently asked questions

How many people should be on a panel?

For a typical conference slot, three or four panelists plus a moderator works best. More than that leaves too little time for each person and for audience questions.

Should panelists see the questions in advance?

Yes, in most cases. It leads to better, more specific answers. The moderator should still feel free to ask follow-up questions and change the order on stage.

What should I do if another panelist talks too much?

Leave it to the moderator first. If there is no moderator intervention, you can politely bridge in: “That’s a good point, and I’d add one thing from a different angle.”

Can I use slides on a panel?

Usually not. Panels are conversations. If you need to show something, agree with the moderator and organizer in advance and keep it to a single slide.