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Introducing a Speaker & Moderating a Panel
10 min
B2
Free
Introducing a speaker
French introductions tend to list credentials: diplômé de, responsable de, auteur de. English introductions focus on why the audience should care. Credentials come second — relevance comes first.
The structure
"Our next speaker has spent the last 15 years transforming how companies approach digital marketing."
→ Lead with impact, not titles. The audience wants to know WHY to listen.
→ Lead with impact, not titles. The audience wants to know WHY to listen.
"She's currently the VP of Marketing at TechCorp, and before that she led the digital transformation at Renault."
→ Current role + one impressive past role. Don't read their entire CV.
→ Current role + one impressive past role. Don't read their entire CV.
"Today she'll be talking about why 80% of digital strategies fail — and what the other 20% do differently. Please welcome Sarah Chen."
→ Tease the content + name at the end. The name is the cue for applause.
→ Tease the content + name at the end. The name is the cue for applause.
Moderating a panel
"Let me start with a question for the whole panel..."
Permettez-moi de commencer par une question pour tout le panel...
Opens the discussion. Then direct follow-ups to specific panellists.
Permettez-moi de commencer par une question pour tout le panel...
Opens the discussion. Then direct follow-ups to specific panellists.
"That's a great point. Sarah, would you agree with that?"
Creates dialogue between panellists. Don't let one person dominate.
Creates dialogue between panellists. Don't let one person dominate.
"We're running short on time, so let me ask one final question..."
Time management is the moderator's job. Flagging time keeps everything professional.
Time management is the moderator's job. Flagging time keeps everything professional.
"Let's open it up to the audience. Who has a question?"
Transition to Q&A. "Open it up" = invite participation.
Transition to Q&A. "Open it up" = invite participation.
Common mistakes
"I have the honour to present Dr. Martin who is diplômé from Harvard and responsable of..." → too formal, too credential-heavy, French structure. Lead with impact: "Dr. Martin has spent 20 years solving [problem]. Today she'll share [what]." Also: the speaker's name always goes last — it's the cue for applause.