Celebrity Interview

Reconnect the Experience of Leaders and Experts with People Closest to the Challenge at Hand (~30–55 min.)

“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.”
— Audre Lorde

Purposes

In Celebrity Interview, a host interviews a leader or expert about a shared challenge, and the audience asks additional questions. This structure transforms a passive presentation into an engaging personal narrative, revealing how the celebrity approaches a challenge. By drawing out examples, emotions, and experiences, it sparks the audience’s imagination and inspires collective action. Celebrity Interview enacts LS Principle #3, Build Trust as You Go.

Principle: Build Trust as You Go

Five Structural Elements—Min Specs

Structuring Invitation

“Let’s have a real conversation about the things that matter, the experiences that shape us. We have an opportunity to ask a celebrity the tough questions and get straight answers.”

Space and Materials

A space at the front of the room [spotlight] where everyone can see and hear the celebrity and interviewer. [Breakouts of two to three.] Interview questions prepared in advance (see the figure in Collateral Materials for examples). Index cards to collect audience questions [chat]. Microphones for celebrity and interviewer, if needed.

Participation Distribution

Roles include interviewer/host [tech host], celebrity, and audience. Minimum group size is twelve. Everyone has an equal opportunity to listen and generate questions.

Group Configuration

Pairs or small groups, whole group

Steps and Time Allocation

Intro: Share the structuring invitation. Display the figure in Collateral Materials below to introduce the flow. (1 min.)

Introduction: Welcome the celebrity and introduce the topic in a casual talk-show format. [Spotlight the celebrity and ask audience members to turn off their cameras.] (3 min.)

Interview: Interview the celebrity with prepared questions. (15–30 min.)

Generate New Questions: Participants think of more questions in a 1-2-4-All configuration [breakouts of two to three] and write them on index cards [in the chat]. (5–10 min.)

Ask New Questions: Sift through the questions and ask a few more. (5–10 min.)

Conclusion: Make a closing comment and thank the celebrity. (1 min.)

Taking It Online

For small groups, use a 1-2 or 1-3 configuration instead of 1-2-4-All.

Practice Insights

Tips

Keep the introduction short. Questions should not be trivial or easy to answer. You can give them to the celebrity in advance so they can prepare. During the interview, ask for stories and concrete details.

Riffs and Variations

Conduct research in advance to gather questions from participants, such as what they want to know but would not dare to ask. Invite a few celebrities to highlight different perspectives.

Practical Applications

Celebrity Interview can help leaders launch a new initiative, welcome a new leader to the organization, bring contextto an otherwise dry presentation, or help a few leaders debrief after an important event.

Optional String

String with Wicked Questions or Critical Uncertainties to explore emerging options. Pair with Strategy Knotworking to advance your strategy.

Attribution

Liberating Structure developed by Henri Lipmanowicz and Keith McCandless.

Collateral Materials

Link to supporting materials for Celebrity Interview.

Sample Celebrity Interview Questions

  1. What gives you the strength to lead through this challenging time? 

  2. What big transitions are most critical in this moment?

  3. Given the challenges and transitions underway, what do you hope is possible?

  4. What must be invented or developed for us to succeed?

  5. To make space for innovation, what do we need to let go of or stop doing? What is your part in letting go? 

Participant Guide 

  1. Ask the big questions on everyone’s mind.

  2. Ask the questions that would help you make sense of the complex situation at hand.

  3. Share your questions as curiosities that came from your group (this helps make the hard questions easier to ask).

Celebrity interview questions and participant guide.

Microstructural elements of Celebrity Interview in the constellation format.