From Butterflies to Breakthroughs: Navigating Your First Panel

(Left to right): Laura Bickle, Hélène Moberg, Shannon Della Valle, Brenda Perrin, Shaniece Nichols

In August, I was invited by the wonderful Laura Bickle (Ignite Magazine) to sit on my first panel at theEVENT 2025. The topic? On the Spot: Real Strategies for Responding to the Unexpected. Easy - a career in hotels and service can equip you with those, and I don’t typically have trouble being on a stage.

But this was different from a karaoke outing or having a bit of scripted podium time to talk about Fredericton. This felt more personal.

What ended up being the most difficult part for me was managing the nerves that came with stepping on stage in front of an audience of my industry peers. If you’ve ever felt your palms dampen, your heart race, and your mouth dry up at the thought of public speaking, you know exactly what I mean. This really felt like I was putting myself out in front of my peers in a new way.

Here are a few thoughts that helped me go from anxious to (mostly) at ease, and may support you as you prepare for your time in the spotlight.

1. Ditch the imposter syndrome.
   
   I know I’m not alone in dealing with this devil on my shoulder. “I don’t have enough credentials/experience to be on the stage”, it whispers. Here’s the thing: what I shared didn’t have to be some ‘great wisdom’. It just needed to be real, relatable, and get the conversation going. It helped that Patricia, FCC’s Marketing Director and the editor I trust the most, gave me advice and helped me tweak my notes. So I suppose number 1 may actually be, “Have a mentor help you”.
   
   
2. Practice on repeat.
   
   You don’t need to rehearse your remarks word for word or anticipate every possible audience question. However, it’s helpful to have your key themes and takeaways clearly defined, and a strong opening line ready to go. Practice introducing yourself with warmth and confidence - it sets the tone for everything that follows.
   
   
3. Focus on connection, not perfection.
   
   When you’re sitting on a panel, nobody expects you to have a polished keynote memorized. The goal is to share perspective and connect with the audience. Once I shifted from “I have to be flawless” to “I get to share what I’ve learned,” the pressure eased significantly.
   
   
4. Reframe the nerves.
   
   Instead of telling myself I was “nervous,” I started saying I was “energized.” It’s the same physical response—fast heartbeat, butterflies, adrenaline—but by relabelling it, I was able to think of that energy as exhilarating rather than debilitating.
   
   
5. Breathe (really, don’t forget).
   
   It sounds basic, but taking a slow breath before stepping on stage kept me grounded. And taking that same slow, deep breath before responding to a question can give you time to gather your thoughts. Silence feels longer to you than it does to the audience, so it’s okay to pause.

When all was said and done, I left the stage feeling good, not because I said everything I meant to say perfectly (I didn’t), but because I didn’t let fear hold me back. If I’d have said “no”, I wouldn’t have shared this experience with women I admire.

If you ever hesitate to say yes to an opportunity, I encourage you to push through. The MPI community is full of supportive peers who are rooting for you to succeed and want to hear your voice. And after you’ve done it once, next time it should feel a whole lot easier.

So next time you have an opportunity where a program is looking for panelists – or your MPI Toronto Chapter is looking for volunteers, leaders, or article and blog contributors – consider putting your hand up! You may surprise yourself with how much you have to share, how much you’ll gain from it, and how much you’ll enjoy it.

Brenda Perrin
Business Development Manager
Fredericton Convention Centre
VP, Marketing & Communications
MPI Toronto Chapter