Isabel Buchbinder is a sought-after presenter who impresses with her charismatic presence, lively energy and multilingualism.
Born in Germany and raised in Portugal and Switzerland, she combines cultural diversity with a strong business background. Isabel began her career as an entrepreneur before taking to the stage as a presenter for the first time in 2017. Today, she inspires audiences at events as a presenter and speaker. With her natural ease, professional demeanour and inspiring personality, she creates unforgettable moments – in German, English and French.
Interview with Isabel Buchbinder
How did you decide to become a presenter and what sparked your interest in this profession?
By chance. A few years ago, when I was working as a hostess, I was asked to moderate an event at the Geneva Motor Show, which sparked my interest as a presenter. Since then I have moderated, presented or spoken at various events. I also love being on stage and spreading positive energy, which I already enjoyed doing at school.
Was waren die größten Herausforderungen, denen Sie in Ihrer Karriere als Moderatorin begegnet sind, und wie haben Sie diese überwunden?
As my career as a presenter is still in its infancy, these challenges are still fresh in my mind. I would say the biggest one is the nervousness right before you go on stage. As soon as I stand on stage and start talking, everything is gone, it’s all about those few seconds beforehand. And this is quickly overcome with simple breathing exercises.
What qualities and skills do you consider to be the most important to be a successful moderator?
The most important qualities, in my perspective, are to radiate self-confidence, joie de vivre and chrism. It is important, no matter what topic you are moderating, whether you are conducting interviews or giving a presentation, you have to give the audience something and touch them emotionally, something that the audience will remember positively after the event.
How do you prepare for a moderation and what strategies do you use to remain flexible during an event?
In order to prepare myself as well as possible, I do a lot of research on the topic of the event, so there is room for improvised questions or comments. The most important strategy is in-depth preparation and ‘staying cool’ at all times during the moderation and having fun, which not only goes down well but also allows a certain flexibility.
What are the most important trends and developments in the field of moderation and event management that you are currently observing?
In my view, a growing trend in events and moderation is authenticity. Personalities that are authentic and where the audience can identify with something.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career as a presenter?
Two pieces of advice I would like to pass on to someone who wants to pursue a career as a presenter are as follows:
- Be yourself! There are so many different events out there and your personality and uniqueness is what sets you apart!
- As practice makes perfect, take every opportunity you get to gain experience.
How do you deal with difficult or unexpected situations during an event?
There is only one thing that helps in difficult or unexpected situations: humour, which should never be missing!