Fight Stage Fright: Five Killer Steps to Speaking on Panel

Photo: Alyssa Dawson

Written by: Michelle Newbery, President of The Mine

I’ve had the opportunity to attend and participate in many panels over my career. The first one I ever attended was the Lowe's Women’s Leadership Summit, an annual event created by Lowe’s to empower women in retail and foster diverse thinking. It was an amazing experience that helped shape my career path at Lowe’s (which owns The Mine), inspired me to pursue my goals, and motivated me to help other women find success. 

As President of The Mine, it was an honor to be asked again to be a panelist for the Create & Cultivate Conference at Microsoft Headquarters in Redmond, Washington. I’m deeply invested in the entrepreneurial pursuits of my fellow women in business, and I take my role in this event very seriously. 

Here’s how I approached preparing for this year’s event:

1. Research the other presenters, and be prepared to get (a little) personal. 

Organic dialogue between panelists always resonates with audiences, and it’s much easier to do if you can quickly and easily establish a genuine rapport with them.  I was once on a panel at the Forrester’s Digital Transformation Event with other Lowe’s execs and we discussed the challenges of balancing speed with quality, and how to find middle ground that helped create The Mine as a very nimble part of the Lowe’s organization.  The audience enjoyed the discussion, but became even more engaged when we framed “finding the middle ground” in a context of the Lowes.com VP’s love of barbecue and my tastes as a vegetarian. We talked about how compromise can lead to creative solutions, much like those we rely on at The Mine. In short, personalizing the story – revealing something about yourself to both the audience and your fellow panelists – can increase engagement across the board. 

2. Know your audience, and know how to connect with them. 

Who attends the event and what are they most interested in? How can you personally relate to them and share your own experiences in a way that will both inspire and help them get further, faster? I remember being at the Time, Inc., Home Summit and how designers there appreciated hearing about how e-commerce can positively impact their business. They also enjoyed learning about how we work with designers like Alexa Hampton; how meaningful those relationships can become.   It’s easy for me to speak from the heart to designers about design, because it’s a passion of mine. But, what if you face an audience with interests that don’t dovetail so well with your own?   It’s important to spend time learning about what you do have in common, so you can be prepared to best resonate with your audience.

3. Create a target list. 

Who’s going to be at this event that you want to meet? You should always start networking before you get there.   It only takes a moment to browse or start following an Instagram or Twitter feed to get familiar with what kinds of things interest the people you want to meet.   If they have written a book or an article, read it.  Mentioning it can make for a pretty irresistible conversation starter.   

4. Make a cheat sheet and fill it with WOW.  

Okay, so it’s not really a cheat sheet, but hopefully it got your attention – because these days fast facts and one-liners have the kind of social “stickiness” that big speeches lost long ago.  Coming prepared with key statistics and talking points you can easily reference will help you show up authentically and build creditability. That’s what I learned at Create & Cultivate New York, an amazing conference to help women literally create and cultivate the careers of their dreams. Those women really knew the power of social media and were ready to use it.  Audiences now have more socialsavvy than ever – they’ll Tweet you before you’re even ready, so keep your cheat sheet and WOW metrics close at hand.  

5. Leave the script at home. 

This is a tough tip to follow, but it’s important. It’s better to be natural, and maybe a little flawed, than to recite canned material like a robot.  Be able to talk spontaneously about your facts, not just recite them.    Preparing you message is important, but whem I’m facing an audience I try to relax and share by ideas more naturally by infusing personal stores and humor were possible.   As a mom of a teenage daughter and tween son, I have a lot of material.   Keep it professional, but keep them guessing. That’s how we can win over our audiences as panelists with presence.

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Don't Miss This! Seattle-Based The Mine Shares Local Favorites

Create & Cultivate is heading to Seattle for our final conference of the year. So we checked in with Seattle-based company, The Mine, to get the scoop on their must-pop-by places. Their goods are featured in multiple spots around the Emerald city, so they would know. 

If you are visiting for the conference, check out these local favorites and look around for the #minefinds!  

MATTHEWS WINERY

Location: 16116 140th Pl NE, Woodinville, WA 98072

photo credit: Matthews Winery Instagram

You might say coffee, but we say first stop, wine tasting! One of our favorite Seattle-area wineries to visit in the afternoon is Matthews in Woodinville. As a family-owned winery, their wine comes from the far away vines of Bordeaux and local Washington grapes. There isn’t an occasion Matthews can’t cater to with their wide range of venues and wine. 

Not only is the wine delectable, but the rustic atmosphere makes you want to stay all day. We’re not sure if it’s the twinkly chandelier, wood barrels, or the classic bar stools, but we’re obsessed with the quaint, romantic ambience of this Woodinville winery. We love the simple elegance that the dark-stained wood gives throughout the space! The design consequently matches Matthews chic wine bottle and organic charcuterie plate. 

After you are done wine tasting, make sure to properly store your purchased bottles in one of these handy racks. Open daily for tastings, we highly recommend taking the 20 minute drive to Woodinville from Seattle for a visit! 

THE LONDON PLANE & LITTLE LONDON PLANE

Location: 300 & 322 Occidental Ave. S, Seattle, WA 98104

Photo credit: The London Plane Instagram

Refuel after wine tasting at a charming dinner spot steps away from downtown Seattle! A local favorite, The London Plane features not only a rustic, modern-country cafe, but a specialty-foods grocery, bakery, and florist all in one stylish space. Who knew convenience could be so stylish? 

Just around the corner, The Little London Plane differs in size and purpose. Mostly used for events, the quaint eatery hosts private gatherings featuring in-house catering. Both venues feature sustainably sourced food inspired by European traditions while retaining the Pacific Northwest’s identity. 

It’s no surprise that these airy modern spaces inspire visitors again and again. Our favorite pieces from The London Plane are the wishbone dining chairs, branch-inspired chandelier, gold pendant light, and mini candles. Whether you’re meeting friends for a quiet dinner or studying for your next exam, The London Plane is the perfect place for any kind of intimate gathering. The versatility of purpose is reflected in the relaxed-yet-refined design, courtesy of The Mine. Wandering into either of these dining spots will give you a local taste of Seattle and rustic design inspo destined to leave a lasting impression. 

MOLLY MOON’S ICE CREAM

Locations:  Wallingford | U-Village | Capitol Hill | Redmond | Madrona | Columbia City| Queen Anne | 19th/Mercer

Photo credit: Molly Moon’s website and Instagram 

Make sure to leave some room for ice cream! The last stop you have to check out is Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream. Molly Moon’s is a Seattle must go-to stop, known for its local Pacific Northwest sourced ingredients and community engagement. The company was founded by Molly Moon Neitzel herself; a powerful supporter of worker’s and women’s rights! 

All eight shops carry Molly moon's signature plus seasonal flavors and freshly made waffle cones that can’t be found anywhere else! (My top three favorite has to be Earl Grey, ‘Scout’ Mint, and Honey Lavender).

Molly Moon’s is known for their adorably designed, clean, crisp shops. When you head into Molly Moon’s, you are greeted by an overwhelming aroma of fresh waffle cones, beautiful baby powder blue and white, with rustic cherry red, brown, and black accents that highlight the colorful modern vibes. It the perfect place to take an Instagram-worthy photo. Even their furniture are aesthetically appealing! See for yourself while enjoying that perfect scoop of ice cream on their industrial styled adjustable stools, sky blue cafe side chairs, white glossy dining table, or their white marble dining table. (You can even find these beautiful products on our site to create that perfect baby blue aesthetically appealing design). 

If you want to take more Instagram-worthy photos, head over to Molly Moon’s headquarters to take pictures at their studio. Maybe you’ll see some of iconic office chairs in their headquarters or even in Molly Moon’s office! 

While you’re in Seattle, do your own exploring and discover other local favorites. If you snap a shot of any of these places and post on your Instagram, be sure to tag @createcultivate and @shopthemine. Have fun!

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