Good Questions to Ask Guest Speakers During a Virtual Event or Webinar

Guest speakers are a great addition to any virtual event. A survey by EventMB found that 45% of respondents said that a high-profile speaker would be the biggest factor in convincing them to attend a virtual event

There can be so many topics to cover when speaking with an expert in the field you’re interested in - but if you don’t know where to start, we’ve got you covered! We’ve compiled 60 questions to ask guest speakers to make your next virtual event a hit, ranging from icebreakers to engaging questions that dig a little deeper. Compile a list of some of the following questions for guest speakers to prepare for your virtual event and make it a great one.

What are good questions to ask a guest speaker at a webinar or virtual event?  

The best questions to ask a guest speaker at a virtual event are ones where your audience can learn valuable information about the topic or the speaker themselves. It’ll benefit you and your attendees to familiarize yourself with your speaker before the virtual event so you can formulate the best questions that will bring the most insightful information to the event. Get to know their passions and what they are the proudest of in their professional career. As you talk with the guest speaker during your event, listen carefully to what they say, so you can respond as you naturally would make the experience better for everyone involved.

According to data shared by Corporate Communication Experts, the average audience attention span is only 8 to 10 minutes. If you’re hosting the virtual event, make the event fun and engaging for your audience by incorporating different opportunities for interaction! Choose a platform where you can hold live polls asking if your event viewers agree or disagree with what the speaker is saying, or have viewers send in any questions they have for the guest speakers  through a hashtag on social media. 

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Warm up or opener questions

• Who are your role models and mentors?
• When was the last time you were surprised or shocked and by what?
• Tell us something no one in our audience knows about you.
• Who would you invite to your fantasy dinner party?
• Who’s someone in your profession you really admire?
• What period in time would you love to have experienced first-hand?

Questions for guest speakers about their career and work experience

• What are the biggest decisions you’ve made over the last year?
• How has your role changed in the last 12 months?
• How do you see the industry evolving over the next five years?
• What are the biggest misconceptions about your work?
• What would you say makes you different from others in your field?
• What makes your job exciting?
• What are the biggest opportunities in the industry out there at the moment?
• What was your first “win” that made you confident that you were doing the right thing?
• What did you do at work yesterday? (This is a spin on the “what is a typical day” question that will yield more specific, informative answers.)

Questions for guest speakers on leadership

• Can anyone be a leader?
• What does great leadership look like?
• What challenges do leaders face when working together?
• What’s the single most important quality a leader can have?
• What would make you a better leader?
• How do you resolve conflict within a team?
• How do you bring about change?
• How can you get a team to come up with unique solutions?
• How do you develop a strong culture within a team?
• What mistakes did you make then that you wouldn’t make now?

Questions to get advice from a guest speaker

• How did you set yourself apart from others who wanted the same job?
• What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?
• What advice would you give to your younger self at the start of your career?
• What impresses you the most when you are considering hiring someone?
• How does your team (or company) define success?
• What is the biggest challenge to achieving that success?

Follow-up questions for guest speakers

• What early setbacks later gave you an advantage?
• How did you use your experience to influence your decision-making?
• What other factors made a difference to your choices?
• What strategies have had the biggest impact on your success?
• How well have you maintained a positive work-life balance throughout it all?
• Would you make the same decisions again?
• What’s the one thing you’ve learned from your experience?
• What could have made a difference to how things worked out?
• How much has luck played a part?

Fun questions for guest speakers

• Which app would you most miss on a desert island?
• Why do you love what you do?
• What’s the strangest question someone’s asked you in an interview?
• What one piece of advice would you have given yourself 10 years ago?
• What’s your perfect evening after a busy week?

What questions to not ask a guest speaker during a virtual event

There are certain topics or questions to avoid when conversing with guest speakers during a virtual event. A rule of thumb for any event is to stay away from questions that focus on politics or religion, as well as any topics that may be more sensitive. To ensure you don’t overstep the boundaries of the guest speaker, some hosts find it beneficial to ask the speaker ahead of time if there are any specific topics or questions they’d rather steer clear of. Your guest speakers should feel confident and excited to speak at your virtual event and not worry they’ll say something they regret! 

During your virtual event, a key tactic you want to incorporate is engagement with your viewers. Since it is virtual and not in-person, it’s important that you prioritize which hosting platform you use. Many virtual event platforms include engagement features such as polls, gamification, live chats and more. 

FAQs on questions to ask guest speakers

• What is the purpose of asking questions to guest speakers during a virtual event?
  Asking questions to guest speakers during a virtual event serves multiple purposes, such as engaging the audience, providing additional insights and perspectives, clarifying key points, and building relationships between the speakers and the attendees.
• How can I prepare to ask questions to guest speakers during a virtual event?
  To prepare for asking questions to guest speakers during a virtual event, you should research their background, expertise, and topic in advance and come up with a list of relevant and interesting questions that will engage both the speakers and the audience.
• What are some good general questions for guest speakers during a virtual event?
  Some good general questions to ask guest speakers during a virtual event include asking about their background and expertise, their inspiration and motivation, their perspectives on the industry or topic, and their advice for the audience.
• What are some good industry-specific questions for guest speakers during a virtual event?
  Some good industry-specific questions to ask guest speakers during a virtual event depend on the industry or topic but may include asking about the latest trends and innovations, the biggest challenges and opportunities, the best practices and strategies, and the future outlook and predictions.
• How many questions should I ask guest speakers during a virtual event?
  The number of questions to ask guest speakers during a virtual event depends on various factors, such as the length of the event, the number of speakers, and the audience's engagement level. However, it's generally recommended to have a mix of prepared questions and spontaneous questions and to prioritize quality over quantity.

Takeaways about questions to ask guest speakers

With the right questions, you can make your guest speakers segment an absolute hit at your next virtual event! No matter what industry your virtual event is for, there are many ways you can find a great guest speaker. Do some digging and search within your network of friends, family, and past or present colleagues. Check your larger network of connections, or if it’s someone who who has lots of experience in a relevant field, see if your team can reach out to them or their team. No matter who you choose as a guest speaker, make sure it’s someone with a solid reputation and someone who can relate to your industry audience. It’s important to keep who you choose to represent your business in mind, as 80.2% of event organizers have been able to reach larger audiences with virtual events. The platform you choose to host your event makes a big difference as well - a virtual event platform like Hubilo can help you put together a great virtual event filled with positive engagement and custom branding features! Request a demo today to know more!