You recognise real references by three things: named events instead of plain logo walls, a described role and scale, and video material that actually shows the person on stage. If you can also get a short reference call with a previous client, you have enough substance for your decision.
Why logos alone prove nothing
A company logo on a website only says that there was some kind of contact. It might have been a three-day conference, or an internal workshop with eight people. Both can be honest, but you cannot tell as long as the reference gives no details. A reference becomes meaningful with context: what kind of event it was, which role the moderator had, at what scale, in which language. That is why Jasmin Wölke lists her references with exactly these details. At the International Business Summit, a corporate reference, she moderated two days with more than 400 participants and 15 sessions; at the Bosch Global Sales Summit she hosted three days bilingually with guests from 40 countries. Details like these can be followed up and verified in conversation.
Video beats any description
Text describes, video shows. Watch how the person actually moderates: do they hold eye contact or read from notes, does the interaction with the audience look practised or memorised, does the tone fit your occasion. Pay attention to the setting too: a real stage with a real audience tells you more than a studio showreel with cuts every three seconds. If there is no video at all, ask; anyone who regularly stands on stages can usually show something, or will offer a video call where you experience their presence directly.
The reference call: three questions are enough
A professional moderator will connect you with a previous client on request. Three questions get you further than ten: how did the preparation go, what happened when something deviated from the plan, and would you book again. The second question matters most, because the difference between routine and skill only shows in the moment the schedule tips over. Portal ratings cannot replace these conversations: anonymous stars without a traceable source are not evidence. The guide on selecting a moderator for a conference shows how to structure the whole selection; the page on booking a moderator explains the booking process.
What you can do now
Take your shortlist and check each person in this order: read the references with context, watch the video, have a conversation and listen for concrete answers. Anyone who passes all three steps is a safe choice. After that, only the fit with your occasion and audience matters, and a briefing call settles that.