- Global FiresideChat Guidelines & FAQ
Show Topic -- Please only commit to shows where you are comfortable with the specific topic.
General Intent -- The show is designed for people interested in entrepreneurship -- both from the entrepreneurs’ perspective and an investor’s perspective. It is weighted towards startups and companies that grow from startups to scaled companies.
Show Questions -- We can’t pre-select or exclude questions for you. If there’s a question where you don’t feel comfortable answering in detail, simply defer to another panelist. (In practice, this has never come up.)
Show Time -- By committing to the show, you are also committing to the live pre-show prep that occurs for 30 minutes before the show. It is disruptive when panelists do not arrive on time for the pre-show prep.
Avoiding Show Cancellations -- Please only commit to shows on dates when you are certain that you will be able to participate. Last-minute cancellations are disruptive to the show production team and other panelists. Panelists who would have liked to participate don’t get the opportunity if a spot is taken by someone who cancels.
Spirit of the Show -- The show is a collegial educational forum. It’s an opportunity to educate and help people listening and make new connections with the other panelists.
An Educational, Social Good -- The show is designed to be a social good. The audience is a global group of entrepreneurs, corporate team members, governmental employees, students & educators, cultural influencers, management consultants, investors & financial professionals, leaders, etc.
Show Time -- Please be mindful that the show serves a global audience with a global panel, and a by-product of having a global panel is that some panelists will be participating at hours that are early or late in their days. Please factor your personal tolerance for that into your participation.
Speaking Environment -- Please be in a quiet place for the show. Background noise (traffic, doors, chatter, animals, etc.) are audible. If you will be in transit, traveling by car, in an airport, checking into a hotel, etc., it is not a good idea to do a show on that day. Please factor your travel schedule into your show date selection and your travel schedule into your show date commitment.
Show Format -- The show is an audio-only show.
Internet Connections -- Panelists participate via Skype. Please be sure that you have a strong, reliable internet connection on the day of the show.
Microphone Quality & Testing -- Please ensure that whatever microphone you are using picks up the sound of your voice easily and does not produce muffled audio.
Use of Acronyms -- Please try to define acronyms before using them.
Speaking Cadence -- Please try to begin the show by using a measured speaking pace for sharing your comments.
Explanations -- The audience appreciates simple, clear, conceptual explanations, especially during the shows beginning. We often define topics and concepts at the start of the show via questions.
Comment Length -- Please be mindful of the length of your comments. You will have many opportunities to comment during the show. We rotate among panelists and also go back to panelists who express an interest via our chat thread in expressing follow-up comments.
Waiting for Comments to Be Complete & Avoiding Interjecting -- Please wait for comments to be complete. Please also avoid interjecting live. Instead please use the chat thread among panelists to note your interest in commenting. Since we cannot see one another, spontaneous interjections are hard to manage.
Language -- Please avoid using profane language.
Diversity -- The show attempts to include a diverse set of global, national, ethnic, cultural, gender, age, sexual identity and other perspectives.
Points of View -- The show is open and flexible enough so that you will have an opportunity to share your point of view. You needn’t feel like you need to wedge it in or rush sharing it.
Sales Pitches -- Please avoid making sales pitches. This has only happened once. But, it was disastrous from the audience’s perspective. No one gets business or interest from co-opting an educational forum.
30 Minutes Set Up Time (Required) -- 30 minutes before the show begins, the show’s producer and chief of technology tests the sound quality, introduces the panelists to one another, runs through the ins-and-outs of the show and answers any outstanding questions. This testing and live pre-show prep also helps set the stage so you can relax and enjoy sharing your insights.
Discussion Flow -- With respect to the discussion, Alysia will guide it by posing questions. But, no one will feel put on the spot. In the background), there will be a Skype chat thread among Alysia and the panelists, and the show will evolve dynamically. Likewise, if there is an important point of view or detail that you have to share, she'll create ample space for those. The show won't feel rushed or constrained.
Recordings -- It takes time to edit show recordings. Sometimes a week to 10 days. You will receive a link to the recording so that you can share it and refer to it.