Mounia Berrada-Gouzi is a sought-after event moderator who uses her multilingual expertise and intercultural experience to manage impressive events worldwide. Raised in Spain and with German-Moroccan roots, she studied in England and France and speaks fluent German, English and Spanish. With her open and professional manner, she manages to connect people and present complex topics such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation and cybersecurity in an understandable way.
“The audience follows the energy of the presenter/speaker.”
In her career, Mounia Berrada-Gouzi has already moderated numerous conferences, roundtables and panel discussions for renowned companies such as Huawei, IBM and Schaeffler. She is known for her meticulous preparation and her ability to make every event a success with energy and passion. In this interview, you can find out more about her experiences, challenges and her view on the future of event moderation.
Interview with Mounia Berrada-Gouzi:
How did you decide to become a presenter and what sparked your interest in this profession?
When I worked in HR & Communications at the European Central Bank from 2011-2013, I had the opportunity to work in Events for 3 months. I quickly realised how much I enjoyed this area – the many new people you meet every day, the variety (it never gets boring) and the opportunity to bring people and innovative ideas together.
Moderation was not a planned, logical ‘next step’ for me. Rather, through my many years of working in the event sector, I have learnt that I enjoy communicating with and speaking in front of people and that I have a talent for engaging in a wide variety of topics and connecting people with ideas. Thanks to my background as a coach and my academic studies in business psychology & HR, I quickly realised that my sensitivity and my knowledge of human nature provide a very good basis for a career as a moderator.
As a moderator, I’m not the centre of attention and that’s a good thing. Instead, I act as a link between speakers, ideas and the audience. I create a space in which people can feel comfortable and be inspired. The moderation profession is demanding and diverse. I also love the internationality and variety of topics that I encounter on a daily basis.
What were the biggest challenges you faced in your career as a presenter and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge in moderation was overcoming my fear of making mistakes and exposing myself. Initially, I wanted to do everything perfectly, prepare every sentence in advance and say exactly the ‘right’ thing. However, I quickly realised how much this approach limited me.
Over the years, I learnt that although preparation is very important, as a good presenter you have to learn composure and acceptance. There is no such thing as perfection. Besides, perfect is boring 😉 For me, it’s much more about being authentic and showing my whole self. Allowing and showing vulnerability. I now feel as comfortable on stage as I do in my living room. When moderating, I no longer focus on myself and my fears, but on my guests and the speakers.
I focus on creating a space in which people feel comfortable. I can completely let go of my fears. This learning was a great liberation and, in my opinion, distinguishes a professional from a beginner.
What qualities and skills do you think are the most important to be a successful presenter?
Strong (stage) presence, empathy, composure, mindfulness (staying in the here and now), adaptability, intuition and a good feel for people, the ability to listen, an (honest) interest in people, creativity, a very small ego (it’s not about me, it’s about others), the courage to make mistakes, stress resilience, a quick grasp of things and emotional intelligence.
Can you tell us about a particularly memorable or challenging event that you have hosted?
In the summer of 2024, I had the honour of moderating the 40th anniversary of the Spanish technology company GMV. The event with over 3000 employees took place in the Atlético de Madrid football stadium and I was able to interview the former NBA basketball player, Pau Gasol, with the company’s head of HR. It was an inspiring event with a live orchestra and a great audience. Organising and moderating an event with over 3000 people is challenging. Thanks to great teamwork and a wonderful audience, I was able to successfully fulfil my job as presenter.
Wie bereiten Sie sich auf eine Moderation vor, und welche Strategien verwenden Sie, um während eines Events flexibel zu bleiben?
My preparation always begins with at least one preliminary discussion with the client. As a moderator, it is important for me to understand the goals and wishes of the client and the participants in detail. As soon as this has been clarified, I start my own preparations: detailed research on the company, the speakers, the guests, the topics, etc. I also read up on current trends and news to keep myself up to date.
A continuous, clear exchange with my client in the run-up to the event ensures a smooth process and the successful realisation of the event. Flexibility is the be-all and end-all here: I am adaptable and implement changes and requests right up to the last minute. Of course, I also make sure that I have enough time and space to prepare and be mentally and physically fit.
During the event, I utilise the production plan or the planned agenda/schedule, but I am always ready to jump in if there are spontaneous changes. This is normal in the event sector. A pinch of composure, humour, creative thinking and resilience help me to give my best even in very stressful situations. Confidence is one of the most important ingredients of an event presenter.
What are the most important trends and developments in the field of moderation and event management that you are currently observing?
– In order to save costs, many companies fill the role of moderator with internal employees who have little or no experience in moderation/communication. This may be appropriate in certain situations, but it can quickly backfire. A professional presenter is more neutral, experienced and confident. He/she can deal with unplanned situations in a completely different way and can give your event the right ‘touch’.
– Many clients have become reluctant to budget for professional presenters and try to cut corners. Travel budgets are less generous than they were a few years ago.
– Event managers are increasingly planning either very far in advance (approx. 1 year) or at extremely short notice (1-2 weeks).
– Many events are clustered on the same dates.
– It has become more challenging to inspire participants for live events. No-show rates for live and virtual events have risen sharply since the pandemic. It now takes more to attract attendees to an event.
– Attendees want shorter keynotes and more interactive event formats. The traditional model of 1-hour keynotes is no longer up to date. Participants want to interact with each other and take part in the discussions. They don’t (just) want to listen, they want to have their say. The event industry has become more democratic. Event formats such as fishbowls, interviews, hot chair panels, etc., discussion rounds are more successful than programmes that have one keynote after the next on the menu.
– Networking is the reason why people go to (live) events. If you only want content, you can also find it online. Attendees want less crowded days/programmes and more time to relax and network. ‘Less is more.’
What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career as a presenter?
Stay authentic and take off your mask!
Many presenters are not ‘real’ but play a role. The best presenters are those who love their job because they serve others and not to put themselves at the centre of attention. As a presenter, you should be able to listen at least as well as you talk. Active, non-judgemental listening is more important in this profession than just being able to speak well. Gain as much experience as possible and listen to yourself: what are you good at? What do you enjoy? Where and to whom can you best serve with your skills and personality?
How do you deal with difficult or unexpected situations during an event?
I practise mindfulness. This means that I always try to stay in the here and now. I can then act and react spontaneously and confidently from this energy. Inner peace and self-confidence help me to do the right thing even in difficult situations. I listen to my intuition and try to stay calm. Mistakes happen to everyone. Events are not there to be perfect. I prepare myself for the fact that not everything will always run smoothly. It also helps a lot to bring a pinch of humour and to play things over if necessary. The audience usually doesn’t notice.
The audience follows the energy of the presenter/speaker. Composure and aplomb help me not to unnecessarily unsettle the audience or turn unexpected situations into a problem. It’s not that bad. If we make a mountain out of a molehill, then every unexpected situation may feel bad. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
At an event I was hosting in Paris, one of the glass trophies fell to the floor during an awards ceremony. I made a joke, the audience laughed and the matter was forgotten.
Thank you very much, dear Mounia, for the interesting and informative interview!