Understanding Speaking Formats: Keynotes, Fireside Chats, Seminars, and Workshops
Different speaking formats serve different goals, energy levels, and outcomes. This page is designed to help event planners choose the format that best fits what they’re trying to achieve.
Keynote
High-impact, narrative-driven talks designed to align, inspire, and shift perspective across large audiences. The keynote speaker does most of the talking while the audience listens actively.
Fireside Chat or Panel Discussion
Facilitated, conversational discussions that humanize leadership topics and make room for nuance, reflection, and audience connection. Fireside chats are typically two people in conversation, while panels often include three to six speakers.
Seminar
Educational sessions focused on deepening understanding through structured content and applied examples. Seminars are usually more conversational than keynotes, allowing the speaker to adapt the learning to the audience’s context in real time through questions, discussion, and clarification.
Workshop
Highly interactive, skill-building sessions designed to build capability and support real application. The speaker or facilitator guides attendees through applied learning, with active participation, Q&A, and often time for individual and small-group reflection and interaction.
Choosing the Right Format
Rather than starting with a format, it’s often more helpful to start with the outcome you’re trying to achieve.
If your goal is alignment, shared perspective, or energy across a large group, a keynote is often the right place to start.
If your goal is reflection, nuance, or surfacing lived experience, a fireside chat or panel creates space for conversation.
If your goal is understanding a complex topic more deeply, a seminar allows for context, dialogue, and applied examples.
If your goal is behavior change, skill-building, or real application, a workshop provides the structure and time needed to practice.
Examples in Practice
See a keynote in action → Jen Speaking at the Human Capabilities Initiative
Watch a fireside conversation →
Explore a workshop format →
Rather than starting with a format, it’s often more helpful to start with the outcome you’re trying to achieve.
If your goal is alignment, shared perspective, or energy across a large group, a keynote is often the right place to start.
If your goal is reflection, nuance, or surfacing lived experience, a fireside chat or panel creates space for conversation.
If your goal is understanding a complex topic more deeply, a seminar allows for context, dialogue, and applied examples.
If your goal is behavior change, skill-building, or real application, a workshop provides the structure and time needed to practice.
Many events combine formats, such as a keynote to create shared context followed by a workshop or fireside conversation to deepen application.
If you’re unsure which format fits best, you can explore Jennifer’s speaking options or reach out to talk it through.