Interview

Interviews and executive talks on stage

Yes, a moderator can also conduct interviews: Jasmin Wölke moderates on-stage interviews and executive talks in English and German. She prepares every conversation with the organiser and the guest, and leads it so the guest shines and the audience takes something home.

Yes, a moderator can also conduct interviews: Jasmin Wölke moderates on-stage interviews and executive talks in English and German. She prepares every conversation with the organiser and the guest, and leads it so the guest shines and the audience takes something home.

Why an interview often beats a keynote

Many board members, founders and experts dislike giving speeches. In conversation, the same people suddenly become precise, honest and approachable. That is exactly what an on-stage interview uses: instead of twenty slides, you get twenty minutes of real answers. For the organiser, the format has another advantage. An interview can be shortened or extended when the schedule wobbles. A keynote cannot. That is why the executive talk is replacing the classic CEO slot at more and more conferences.

Questions come from the briefing call, not a teleprompter

Before every interview, Jasmin talks to the guest or their team. She clarifies the topics, the core messages and the points that do not belong on stage. The guest knows the direction of the questions, but not the exact wording. That keeps the conversation alive without ambushing anyone. From her own corporate career at Bosch, SAP and Volkswagen, Jasmin knows how executives think and what communications departments watch for. That shortens the alignment noticeably.

Following up when the answer gets too smooth

Experienced guests are often media trained. The first answer lands well but says little. The craft of interview moderation is the second question: friendly, concrete, genuinely curious. Jasmin listens instead of working through a question list, and she picks up what the room is thinking at that moment. On critical topics she stays respectful yet persistent. The guest never loses face, and the audience still gets substance. The same balance carries her work on panels, described on the panel discussion page.

From a single interview to a talk format in the programme

Jasmin conducts single and double interviews, fireside conversations and short talk blocks between keynotes. At the SAP Tech Leadership Forum, conversations with senior leaders were at the core of the programme; the reference is listed under references. She interviews international guests in English or switches between both languages so the whole room can follow. How a relaxed evening conversation format works is shown on the fireside chat page.

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Frequently asked questions

Can a moderator also conduct interviews and executive talks?
Yes. Interviewing is a core craft of stage moderation. Jasmin Wölke prepares the conversations, aligns them with the guest and conducts them live, in English and German.
Does the guest receive the questions in advance?
They know the topics and the direction, not the wording. That lets them prepare without the conversation sounding rehearsed. Off-limits areas are agreed bindingly in the briefing call.
How long should an on-stage interview be?
It depends on the programme. Short talk blocks between keynotes work in just a few minutes, while an executive talk as its own agenda item needs more room. Jasmin plans the length with the organiser along the agenda.
Does she interview in English?
Yes. She interviews in English, in German or switching between both, depending on guest and audience. The language plan is agreed in the briefing.
What distinguishes an interview from a panel discussion?
An interview centres on one person and their story; a panel centres on the exchange of several positions. Jasmin moderates both formats and advises the organiser on which one fits the goal of the slot.
What does interview moderation cost?
An interview is rarely booked on its own; it is usually part of moderating the whole event. After the first call you receive a written offer for the full engagement.

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