What's been my most challenging interview?

(Welcome back to the blog!)

That picture there ^ is of me on stage at Money20/20 in Las Vegas, where I had the privilege and honor of moderating a 40-minute fireside chat on Monday with Gary Gensler, the chair of the SEC. (Photo: Bryan Bedder; YouTube here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjKZC1HIy_8)

Why it matters: I've been interviewing people for more than 10 years, and this moment stands out as one of the most challenging.

Context: Previously, my toughest was in 2021 when I sat down for an hour in The Hague with then-CEO of 壳牌 , Ben van Beurden , for "Axios on HBO."

• In both assignments, the stakes were high: Each guest led globally consequential organizations; the topics (climate and energy, and regulation) were prickly; and the production logistics were complex.
• And before 2021, it was Jack Ma of Alibaba in 2016 for CNN. (More on that in a future post.)

The big picture: I've conducted thousands of interviews — most for live broadcast and print — but stage interviews are a different beast.

• There's more at risk and to juggle because I'm physically more vulnerable (my whole body is being presented, compared to just waist-up on TV). And as the host, I have to carry the whole room and online livestream at the same time that I'm focused on my guest or guests and the interview itself.
• Naturally, I love the event and stage format because it demands the highest level of performance and focus.

Zoom in: The length and hybrid structure of my conversation with Gensler on Monday made the interview even more challenging.

• I was alone on stage in front of hundreds of people, but I had to convey intimacy.
• I also knew he wasn't exactly popular with the audience, so I focused maniacally on fairness, channeled different vibes and switched across several tones.
• And because I had 40 minutes with him, I needed to prepare a large bank of questions.
• For context, TV interviews I conducted at Cheddar usually ran about five- to seven-minutes long, allowing for maybe six questions if I could manage the clock well. Going into Monday's chat, I had roughly close to 70. (More on interview prep in a future post.)

Reality check: Every new interview is a challenge for me. I don't take the experience I've racked up for granted —?that I've gotten somehow good enough to slack off on prep or that someone doesn't deserve a certain level of prep from me. So if you ask me this question next year, I will likely have another answer.

Alright, I'm still a little tired from the trip, but it couldn't have been more fun. I can't believe this was my first Money20/20 —?it will be hard to top!

Lastly: A HUGE thank you to everyone who came up to me in the casino and at other events after my talk, or jumped into my LinkedIn DMs. Hearing your feedback (especially from so many incredible women!) has been humbling and validating.

Thank you all for your continued support!

Stay cool and see you in a week-ish,

Hope