A Panel about Panels
Panels are everywhere at conferences - but what actually makes a panel discussion good? And how do you show up as a panelist (or moderator) in a way that’s memorable, confident, and genuinely useful for the audience?
In this meta panel, moderator Verena Traub and the speakers Agnes Chung, Julia Heidinger & Tereza Iofciu turn the format inside out and talk openly about what it’s really like to speak on panels. Drawing from their own experience, they’ll explore how to prepare without over-preparing, how to make your voice heard, and how to handle common panel pitfalls - from awkward silence to timekeeping chaos.
Expect practical tips, honest stories, and concrete takeaways for anyone who wants to feel more comfortable, present, and impactful on stage when the format isn’t a solo talk. Whether you’re new to panels or a seasoned panelist, this session will help you make panels work for you - and for the audience.
Agnes Chung co-founded musicube in 2019 to revolutionise music discovery by combining her expertise in musicology with AI technology. With over 15 years in the music industry, she has worked to break through echo chambers and explore the untapped potential of data-driven music. Her startup, now part of Songtradr, highlights the intersection of music and technology. As a speaker and founder, Agnes inspires others to innovate, empowering businesses to embrace creativity and fostering collaboration between start-ups and established companies.
Julia Heidinger is a web developer and co-founder of the Social Developers Club. With this international network, she organizes Europe-wide coding workshops, meetups and conferences to break down barriers to programming and technology and create more diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. As a tech content creator and speaker, Julia tackles stereotypes about computer science and creates content about STEM, IT careers, and innovation.
Tereza Iofciu is a data and AI expert, leadership coach, and PSF Fellow with 15+ years of experience leading data and product teams at neuefische, FREE NOW, and New Work (XING). She helps professionals lead and adapt in the age of AI through her Data Diplomat Framework™, bridging technical depth with human leadership.