The Moderator's Handbook

Panels are high-stakes discussions in which both panelists and the audience want to be engaged, stimulated, and moved. Katrina Dudley does a masterful job of breaking down the moderator process and incisively sharing best practices while retaining authenticity. -- Vivian James Rigney, C-Suite executive coach and author of <i>Naked at the Knife-Edge: What Everest Taught Me About Leadership and the Power of Vulnerability</i> Moderating a panel is a powerful way to showcase leadership, executive presence, and influence. The Moderator’s Handbook is a step-by-step guide to help you prepare, connect with the audience, and maximize your impact. With actionable tools and insights, this book empowers you to turn panels into career-advancing opportunities while honing your leadership skills and bringing out the best in others. -- Joel Garfinkle, author of <i>Executive Presence: Step Into Your Power, Convey Confidence, and Lead with Conviction</i> The Moderator’s Handbook is the ultimate guide to creating panel discussions that captivate, inspire, and deliver real impact. Packed with practical strategies refined over years of experience, this book equips you with everything you need to select the perfect panelists, ask thought-provoking questions, and foster meaningful audience engagement. Whether you’re a seasoned moderator, a panelist stepping into the spotlight, or an event organizer aiming for success, this book is your must-read companion before your next event! -- Jeff Guberman, former CEO of McVeigh Global Meetings and Events If you are a conference organizer, keynote speaker, panelist, or moderator, The Moderator's Handbook is the most comprehensive book available that offers valuable insights and recommendations to successfully and effectively engage audiences. Having delivered more than 200 keynote speeches over the past five years at a wide variety of conferences, I wish I had this book each time before I took the stage to remind me of the critically important role of the audience and how to engage them in a way that leaves them wanting more. -- Mark Beal, thought leader, author, and keynote speaker As an executive coach working with senior leaders, I often recommend moderating panels as a powerful way to raise their profile—putting them alongside respected leaders, sparking meaningful connections, and showcasing their ability to guide high-level conversations. It’s a chance to demonstrate executive presence, not by speaking the most, but by creating space for insight, elevating others, and shaping the dialogue with credibility and clarity. This book is packed with practical advice and it’s a must-read to further develop your thought leadership. -- Luciana Nuñez, executive coach and partner, The Preston Associates