As the managing director of LaunchTech, a tech-focused marketing and public relations agency, Wayne Schepens has transformed the firm into the industry’s fastest growing cybersecurity communications agency. Under Wayne Schepens’s direction, LaunchTech executes credibility campaigns that promote their executive clients as industry experts through public relations strategies such as thought leadership panels.
For many companies, participating in thought leadership panels are ideal opportunities for sharing industry-advancing information while raising brand awareness, promoting the company’s authority in their sector, and identifying potential collaborators or clients. Before submitting a panel to a conference, firms should consider the following points.
Topic Relevance - Vendors in the fast moving technology sector must constantly make high-stakes decisions. The most useful panels bring together experts to discuss an area where many companies are mulling changes. Some examples are customer data protection policies, tech-centered ethical dilemmas, and cloud migration. The panel should provide attendees with enough information to help guide the decision-making process.
Panel Expertise - Once the topic is decided, the panel should feature leading figures who can make arguments for both sides of the question. It is important that panelists do not solely express their personal views, but also use their background knowledge and experience to describe any advantages and disadvantages of various approaches. An experienced moderator should also join the panel to keep the conversation focused.
Audience Response - Thought leadership panels shouldn’t be a passive experience for attendees. Organizers should schedule an adequate amount of time for audience members to react to the presented arguments, ask questions, and seek clarification.
