FAQ – Prepare for an interview
Are you prepared? The best way to get ready for a Q&A is to take the time to review the common FAQ questions we are often asked:
Light
Make sure you have enough lights in the room where you perform the interview, the background lights are as important as the light projected on your face.
Sound & Video
Please make sure you are in a quiet place. If you are using headsets, please make sure the quality is good as well and that there is no interference. Use a good microphone to ensure optimal sound quality. We are recording a podcast and the final product needs to be of a very high sound quality.
If you are unsure if you have a good enough equipment, these are great options:
Example of a good microphone – Example of webcam (coming soon)
Connectivity
Please ensure that you have access to a good quality internet connection capable of delivering a clear audio & video stream.
Wardrobe & Makeup
Dress code is smart casual. Things to avoid are visible brand names that are not your own, complex patterns on shirts, simple block bright colours work best.
FAQ Miscellaneous
• Our Team — We’re grateful that overall demand to participate is large, and … our volunteer team is small.
• General Intent — The show is designed to promote the work of innovators — both from the social and tech’s perspective. It is weighted towards communities.
• Spirit of the Show — The show is a collegial educational forum. It’s an opportunity to educate and help people listening and connect with your co-panelists.
• An Educational, Social Good — The show is designed as a social good. It originated from Vic’s presentation at the UN. The audience is a global group of entrepreneurs, corporate, government professionals, students & educators, cultural influencers, management consultants, volunteers, investors & finance professionals and leaders of all types.
• Show Topic — Please commit to shows where you are comfortable with the overall show topic.
• Show Questions — We can’t pre-select or exclude questions for you. We do a great job of directing questions. If there’s a question where you don’t feel comfortable answering in detail, simply defer to another panellist.
• Show Time — By committing to the show, you are also committing to the pre-show preparation that occurs for 30 minutes before the show.
• Avoiding Show Cancellations – Please commit to shows on dates when you are certain that you will be able to participate. Last-minute cancellations are challenging for the show’s production team and other panelists. Panelists who would have liked to participate don’t get the opportunity if a spot is taken by someone who cancels.
99% of panelists are able to participate. If a committed panelist is not able to participate, we appreciate when they recommend a replacement with comparable expertise and briefs that person before recommending them.
• Show Time — Please be mindful that the show serves a global a pane. A by-product of having a global panel is that some panelists will be participating at hours that are early or late in their days. We appreciate your efforts here.
• 30 Minutes of Pre-Show Set Up Time (Required) — 30 minutes before the show begins, the show’s logistic test the sound quality, introduces the panellists to one another, runs through the ins-and-outs of the show and answers questions. This testing and pre-show prep sets the stage so you can relax and enjoy sharing your insights.
• A Quiet Speaking Environment — Please be in a quiet place for the show. Background noise (traffic, doors, animals, chatter, clinking dishware, fans, etc.) are audible. If a panelist’s environment contains background noise, we can’t feature the panelist on the show.
• Avoiding Logistically Difficult Days — If you will be in transit, traveling by car, in an airport, checking into a hotel, etc., it is not a good idea to do a show on that day. Please factor your travel schedule into your show date selection and your travel schedule into your show date commitment.
• Show Format — The show is an both audio & video.
• Internet Connections — Panellists participate via Skype. Please ensure that you have a strong, reliable internet connection on the day of the show.
• Microphone Quality & Testing — Please ensure that your microphone readily picks up the sound of your voice and does not produce faint or muffled audio. When a panellist’s voice can’t be heard during the pre-show sound check, we can’t feature the panellist in the show.
• Content Delivery — We receive feedback that if we go into technical detail early in the show, we lose the audience. They feel left out. We work to start the show by discussing foundational concepts.
• Style of Delivery — Simpler and slower is better when answering questions, explaining concepts, etc. Always cite your reference points from credible sources. It can be helpful to imagine your listener as a friend who works outside your industry or field of expertise.
• Acronyms — Please define acronyms before using them. Often this has the side-benefit of given the audience insight into a useful concept.
• Specialised Terminology — If you use an industry-specific term, please define it before using it.
• Speaking Cadence — Please try to begin the show with measured speaking pace.
• Explanations — The audience appreciates simple, clear, conceptual explanations.
• Examples — Examples can be useful to illustrate concepts and keep the show lively.
• Answer Length — Please be mindful of the length of your comments. You’ll have many opportunities to comment during the show. We rotate among panelists and also go back to panelists who express an interest via our chat thread in expressing follow-up comments.
• Waiting for Comments to Be Complete — Please use the chat thread among panelists to note your interest in commenting on a question. Since we cannot see one another, spontaneous interjections are awkward to manage.
• Language — Please avoid awkward language.
• Diversity — Our goal to include a diverse set of global, national, ethnic, cultural, gender, age, sexual identity and other perspectives.
• Discussion Flow — With respect to the discussion, Vic guides it by posing questions. But, no one will feel put on the spot. In the background, there will be a Skype chat thread among Vic and the panellists, and the show will evolve dynamically. Likewise, if there is an important point of view or detail that you have to share, she’ll create ample space for those. The show won’t feel rushed or constrained. The show is open and flexible enough that you will have an ample opportunity to comfortably share your point of view.
• Sales Pitches — No sales pitches will be allowed during the show.
• Recordings — It may take time to edit show recordings. Sometimes up to 10 weeks. You’ll receive a link to the recording.
