Designing Panels and Seminars That Inspire: A Beyond Her Vision Guide
The Beyond Her Vision Blog:
Panels and seminars are cornerstones of professional development events—they foster dialogue, share diverse perspectives, and help attendees tackle complex topics. However, a poorly structured panel can feel like a series of unrelated monologues, leaving the audience disengaged. In my role curating panels for Beyond Her Vision’s Summit and other workshops, I’ve developed a framework to ensure panels and seminars are cohesive, dynamic, and actionable. This guide provides a Beyond Her Vision blueprint for designing sessions that deliver real value, particularly for female founders seeking to learn from peers and industry leaders.
Step 1: Select a Focused, Impactful Topic
Identify a Pressing Pain Point
Survey your community to uncover topics that feel urgent. Beyond Her Vision once ran a poll asking, “What keeps you up at night?” Top responses: “Fundraising as a woman of color,” “Balancing wellness and growth,” and “Scaling without losing brand authenticity.” Using these insights, we narrowed our next panel to “Raising Capital & Maintaining Your Brand Voice.”Ensure Timeliness & Relevance
Keep a pulse on industry trends. If there’s a significant policy change (e.g., new SBA grants for female entrepreneurs) or a buzzworthy book release (like a best-selling title on startup culture), align your panel topic accordingly. This positions your event as current and indispensable.
Step 2: Curate a Diverse Panel Lineup
Aim for 3–5 Panelists with Complementary Perspectives
The “Mogul Mentor”: An established founder who’s raised multiple rounds (e.g., a CEO who’s closed Series A).
The “Bootstrapped Badge-Holder”: A founder who scaled to six figures without outside capital.
The “Investor Lens”: A female investor or angel who can explain what she looks for in a pitch.
The “Brand Strategist”: An expert helping founders maintain authenticity while scaling.
Consider Demographic & Experiential Diversity
Mix founders at varying stages (pre-revenue, $500K, $2M+).
Include different industries (tech, wellness, fashion) to broaden appeal.
Strive for racial and cultural diversity, ensuring representation from women of different backgrounds.
Step 3: Craft Guiding Questions & Flow
Develop a “Question Bank” Tailored to Each Panelist
For the “Mogul Mentor”: “Walk us through your first seed pitch—what was your biggest challenge, and how did you overcome it?”
For the “Bootstrapped Badge-Holder”: “How did you fund your initial product run, and at what point did you consider external investment?”
For the “Investor Lens”: “What red flags do you see in a pitch deck, and how do you recommend founders address them?”
For the “Brand Strategist”: “How can a founder retain brand authenticity while implementing growth hacks?”
Allocate Time Blocks
Introduction (5 minutes): Moderator introduces topic, panelists, and sets context.
Individual Perspectives (3 minutes each): Each panelist answers a core question.
Cross-Panel Dialogue (15 minutes): Moderator poses cross-cutting questions (e.g., “What trade-offs did you face between growth and brand integrity?”).
Audience Q&A (10–15 minutes): Collect questions via index cards (in-person) or chat (virtual).
Closing Takeaways (5 minutes): Each panelist shares one actionable tip.
Step 4: Recruit & Prepare Panelists
Outreach Email Template
Subject: Invitation to Speak on “[Panel Topic]” for Beyond Her Vision Summit
Hi [Name],
I hope you’re doing well! I’m Cathy, founder of Beyond Her Vision—a Chicago-based community empowering female founders through workshops, panels, and networking. We’re hosting our annual Summit on May 23, 2025, and I’d love to invite you to join a panel titled “Raising Capital & Maintaining Your Brand Voice.”
Why You? Your track record (e.g., raising $1M seed as a female founder) and commitment to brand authenticity align perfectly with this discussion. We believe your insights will be invaluable for our audience of early-stage entrepreneurs.
Details:
Date: May 23, 2025
Time: 3:30–4:30 PM CST
Format: In-person panel (BMO Tower, Chicago) + livestream for virtual attendees
Audience: 100+ female founders, community managers, and aspiring entrepreneurs
We ask that panelists prepare a 3–4 minute answer to an initial question (we’ll share prompts two weeks in advance). There will be a brief tech check/livestream rehearsal the week before. As a token of appreciation, we’ll cover travel expenses (if applicable) and provide a $250 honorarium.
Would you be interested in joining us? Please let me know by [Date], and I can share further details.
Thank you for considering, and I’d be thrilled to have you as part of our panel!
Warmly,
Cathy (Founder, Beyond Her Vision)Pre-Panel Orientation Call
Schedule a 30-minute Zoom call two weeks before the event to:
Run through tech (mics, lighting, screen share)
Review timing and transitions
Confirm key takeaways each panelist will highlight
Address any last-minute questions
Step 5: Promote & Drive Attendance
Leverage Combined Networks
Ask each panelist to promote the event to their email lists and on social media. Provide a “social media kit” with prewritten copy, graphics, and hashtags.
Use Countdown & Teasers
In the two weeks leading up, share behind-the-scenes teasers: “Sneak peek: [Panelist Name] just sent in her first draft answer—here’s a snippet!”
Create Instagram stories with quick “Meet the Panelist” boomerangs or short videos.
Step 6: Measure Impact & Solicit Feedback
On-Site (or Virtual) Polling
Use tools like Slido or Zoom polls to ask: “Which insight was most valuable?” and “What topic would you like next?” Real-time data shows immediate engagement.
Post-Event Survey
Include specific questions about the panel:
“How useful were the panelists’ insights on raising capital?” (1–5 scale)
“Which panelist resonated with you the most, and why?”
“What other topics would you like covered in future panels?”
Share Key Takeaways Publicly
Post a blog recap with bullet-pointed insights (e.g., “3 Tips for Crafting a Compelling Pitch Deck” from the investor panelist). This prolongs the panel’s shelf life and drives SEO traffic.
