open · Team Building, Knowledge Sharing · 35–60 min · 5-100 people · medium energy

Celebrity Interview

The Celebrity Interview transforms a potentially passive presentation into an engaging dialogue by connecting a leader or expert with the audience through a structured Q&A. This method humanizes expertise, encourages active listening, and generates relevant questions from the group.

When to use Celebrity Interview

Use this method to introduce a new leader, share expert knowledge, or debrief an event in a way that is more engaging and personal than a traditional presentation.

What it solves

Boring presentations, lack of audience engagement, disconnect between leaders and teams.

How to run Celebrity Interview, step by step

  1. Introduce the celebrity and topic (3 min).
  2. Interviewer asks pre-prepared questions, focusing on stories and personal experiences (15-30 min).
  3. Participants generate additional questions in 1-2-4 groups and write them on cards (5-10 min).
  4. Interviewer selects questions from the cards and asks them to the celebrity (5-10 min).
  5. Interviewer closes the session and thanks the celebrity (1 min).

Materials needed

  • Microphones (if needed)
  • Chairs or stools for interviewer and celebrity
  • 3x5 index cards
  • Pens

Facilitator tips

  • Provide the celebrity with the initial questions in advance.
  • Encourage the interviewer to ask for stories and concrete examples.
  • Remind the interviewer to ask 'Why is this important to YOU?'

Common pitfalls

  • The introduction becomes a mini-lecture. Keep it brief and focused.
  • The interviewer asks trivial or easily answered questions. Prepare thoughtful, probing questions.
  • The interview stays at a high level without concrete details. Push for stories and examples.

Variations

  • Use a storytelling template like the Hero's Journey to structure the interview.
  • Conduct research beforehand to gather 'dare to ask' questions from participants.
  • Adapt for virtual groups using video conferencing and chat functions.

Running it online or hybrid

Conduct the interview via video conference and use a shared document or chat for participants to submit questions.

What it produces

A shared understanding of the expert's perspective, a collection of audience-generated questions, and potential action items.

Origin

Developed by Henri Lipmanowicz and Keith McCandless, inspired by improvisers in Venezuela. — source

Build a session around Celebrity Interview

METODIC places Celebrity Interview inside a complete, timed session plan — agenda, worksheets, facilitator guide and slides — matched to your group and goal.

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