60 Panel Discussion Questions + Best Practices & Tools

This guide covers the best panel discussion questions across key categories along with actionable best practices to structure, moderate, and enhance your event using webinar engagement tools.

Use these questions to guide panelists toward meaningful insights while keeping attendees engaged and participating. 

Then explore our recommended strategies and resources to improve attendance, increase session duration, and drive post-event engagement.

60 Panel discussion questions organized by category

Below, you'll find 60 carefully selected questions, grouped into the following key categories to help guide the conversation, encourage debate, and maximize audience engagement:

• 10 Icebreaker and warm-up questions
• 10 Topic-specific deep dive questions
• 10 Controversial or debate-driven questions
• 10 Audience engagement and interactive questions
• 10 Future-oriented and thought leadership questions
• 10 Closing and wrap-up panel discussion questions

Icebreaker and warm-up panel discussion questions

Kicking off a panel with engaging icebreakers helps panelists feel comfortable and sets the tone for a lively discussion. 

These questions should be light, relevant to the audience, and encourage personal or unexpected insights.

1. What’s a surprising fact about you that most people don’t know?

2. What drew you to this industry or area of expertise?

3. Can you share a defining moment in your career that shaped your perspective?

4. If you could give your past self one piece of advice, what would it be?

5. What’s a trend in this space that excites you the most right now?

6. If you had to describe your work in just three words, what would they be?

7. What’s the best or worst advice you’ve ever received?

8. What’s one book, podcast, or talk that has influenced your thinking?

9. If you could have a coffee with any industry leader, past or present, who would it be and why?

10. What’s one misconception people often have about your role or industry?

Topic-specific deep dive panel discussion questions

These questions help panelists explore key themes in-depth, providing valuable insights and real-world examples. 

They should challenge speakers to go beyond surface-level responses and offer practical takeaways for the audience.

11. What’s the biggest challenge professionals in this industry face right now?

12. How has this industry evolved in the past five years, and where is it headed?

13. Can you share a real-world example of a strategy that worked—or didn’t—in your experience?

14. What’s a common misconception about this topic that needs to be corrected?

15. How do you measure success in this area, and what metrics matter most?

16. What role does technology play in shaping the future of this field?

17. What mistakes do people or companies frequently make when approaching this issue?

18. How can professionals stay ahead in an industry that’s constantly changing?

19. What’s an underrated strategy or trend that more people should be paying attention to?

20. If you had unlimited resources, what’s the first thing you would change about how this industry operates?

Controversial or debate-driven panel discussion questions

These questions spark discussion, challenge conventional thinking, and encourage panelists to share differing viewpoints. 

They should be thought-provoking while keeping the conversation productive and respectful.

21. Is the industry moving in the right direction, or are we prioritizing the wrong metrics, tools, and processes?

22. What’s an overrated trend that’s getting too much attention?

23. What’s a widely accepted best practice that you think is actually ineffective?

24. Should companies focus more on short-term wins or long-term strategy?

25. Is AI and automation improving this industry, or are we losing something valuable?

26. Are industry regulations helping innovation or stifling it?

27. Should companies be prioritizing profitability over growth in today’s market?

28. What’s one thing most professionals in this field get wrong?

29. Is competition in this space healthy, or are we seeing too much consolidation?

30. What’s a controversial opinion you have that more people should consider?

Audience engagement and interactive panel discussion questions

These questions leverage audience engagement tools like live polls, Q&A sessions, and chat features to make the discussion more interactive. 

Using platforms like Demio, moderators can collect responses in real-time, encourage participation, and tailor the conversation based on audience input.

31. Using the chat, share the biggest challenge you're facing in this area right now.

32. Let’s run a quick poll—how many of you have experienced [specific industry challenge]?

33. Submit a question via the Q&A tool—what’s one thing you’d like to ask the panelists?

34. Drop a word in the chat—what’s one strategy that has worked well for you?

35. Using the poll feature, vote on how you think [emerging trend] will impact your work in the next year.

36. React with an emoji—do you agree or disagree with [recent industry shift]?

37. Share a resource in the chat—a book, tool, or strategy that has been a game changer for you.

38. Type your prediction in the Q&A box—where do you think this industry is heading?

39. Using the poll, vote on the best piece of advice for someone just starting in this space.

40. Share in the chat—what’s the most unexpected lesson you’ve learned in your career?

Future-oriented and thought leadership panel discussion questions

These questions encourage panelists to share predictions, insights, and strategic thinking about the future of their industry. 

They position speakers as thought leaders and help the audience anticipate upcoming trends and challenges.

41. What’s the biggest shift you expect to see in this industry over the next five years?

42. How will emerging technologies like AI, automation, or blockchain reshape this space?

43. What skills will professionals in this field need to stay competitive in the future?

44. What’s one prediction you have that most people might disagree with?

45. If you could change one thing about how this industry operates, what would it be?

46. How will customer expectations evolve, and how should businesses prepare?

47. What role will sustainability and ethical considerations play in shaping the industry?

48. What’s a bold move companies should take now to stay ahead of the competition?

49. Which underrated trend should more people be paying attention to?

50. What advice would you give to the next generation of leaders in this space?

Closing and wrap-up panel discussion questions

These questions ensure the discussion ends on a strong, impactful note.

They should summarize key takeaways, reinforce insights, and leave the audience with a lasting impression.

51. What’s the most important takeaway from today’s discussion?

52. If the audience remembers just one thing from this panel, what should it be?

53. What’s one action item attendees can apply immediately after this event?

54. How can professionals stay informed and continue learning about this topic?

55. What’s one challenge you hope the industry will solve in the next few years?

56. If you could give the audience one piece of advice based on today’s conversation, what would it be?

57. What’s a question we didn’t ask today but should have?

58. Where can people follow your work or connect with you after the event?

59. What’s one final thought or reflection you’d like to leave the audience with?

60. Let’s close with a quick poll—how valuable was this discussion for you today?

Panel discussion guide: 6 Best practices

A well-run panel discussion depends on strong preparation, skilled moderation, and the right tools to keep the conversation engaging. By implementing these best practices, you can maximize registrations, engagement, and other key metrics, like:

• Attendance rate
• Focus rate
• Audience retention
• Post-event conversions

*Note that this is just a high-level guide—for deeper insights with pro tips and a 6-step process, see our Complete Guide on Planning & Organizing a Panel Discussion.

1. Choose panelists for expertise and dynamic discussion

Selecting panelists with diverse perspectives and relevant professional backgrounds ensures a more engaging and insightful discussion.

• Balance experienced speakers with fresh voices to avoid predictable conversations.
• Choose panelists who can articulate their ideas clearly and engage with others.
• Avoid stacking the panel with people who all share the same viewpoint.

2. Structure the panel for engagement

A well-planned format keeps the discussion focused and prevents it from feeling scattered or one-sided.

• Limit the panel to 3-5 speakers to ensure everyone gets a chance to contribute.
• Allocate time for moderated discussion, panelist interactions, and audience participation.
• Mix structured questions with spontaneous follow-ups to keep the conversation natural.

3. Moderate effectively

A strong moderator guides the discussion, keeps panelists on track, and ensures all voices are heard.

• Keep introductions brief so more time is spent on valuable discussion.
• Use questions that push for deeper insights instead of generic responses.
• Manage dominant speakers and draw in quieter panelists to balance the conversation.

4. Keep the audience engaged

Panels should be interactive experiences rather than one-way conversations.

• Involve the audience with live Q&A, polls, or chat-based discussions.
• Keep responses concise to maintain energy and avoid losing attention.
• Address audience-submitted questions early rather than leaving them until the end.

5. Close the discussion with impact

Ending on a strong note ensures the conversation leaves a lasting impression.

• Summarize key takeaways to reinforce the most important points.
• Ask each panelist for a final thought or actionable insight.
• Provide clear next steps, resources, or ways for attendees to stay connected.

💡 Pro tip: Demio’s Featured Actions let you customize CTA links directly from your event. Use short action-oriented phrases to direct attendees to your website, social media channels, or calendar, where they can schedule a meeting.

6. Use webinar engagement and analytics tools

The right automated webinar tools make panel discussions more dynamic, interactive, and insightful.

• Use a tailored platform like Demio for hosting, audience interaction, and tracking.
• Take advantage of engagement features like live polling, Q&As, and audience reactions.
• Allow attendees to participate by joining the stage for live discussion or submitting questions in the chat for real-time responses.
• Leverage post-event analytics to measure engagement and improve future discussions.

Getting the most out of your panel discussion questions

A well-run panel discussion relies on carefully considered questions, strong moderation, and tools that enhance engagement.

By using these strategies, you can create a session that keeps attendees involved, delivers valuable insights, and drives real impact. 

Focus on thoughtful planning and the right technology to make every discussion more engaging and effective.