How to Design Virtual Sessions People Remember ft. Gwyn Wansbrough | #ADAW Ep. 16

The world has moved to Zoom. Have your sessions caught up?

In this episode of Another Day, Another Workshop, I’m joined by virtual facilitation expert Gwen Wansbrough to explore how to turn “just another online meeting” into a meaningful, high-energy live experience.

We go back to Gwen’s very first online session during Spain’s strict lockdown and how one simple prompt in the chat completely shifted the mood from heavy and disconnected to energized and hopeful.

From there, we unpack the Breakthrough Arc she uses to design engaging sessions again and again.If you ever feel drained after online workshops, stuck talking to black screens, or overwhelmed by tools and tech, this one is for you.

In this episode:

✅ The 3 phases of a powerful online experience (safety → challenge → new possibilities)

✅ Gwen’s 8-step Breakthrough Arc for designing live sessions

✅ How to open a Zoom call so people actually want to turn on their camera

✅ What a “power prompt” is – and why it beats “Where are you joining from?”

✅ How to use the chat as your secret engagement superpower

✅ Managing tech without losing your mind (and when to keep it very simple)

✅ Why you should always protect time for a proper closing

✅ The Online Engagement Scorecard and how it helps you see where to improve

✅ How stand-up comedy made Mehdi a better facilitator

📌 Chapters0

0:00 Why most Zoom calls feel so exhausting

02:05 Meet Gwen: from UN work to global facilitation

06:45 Her first online session in lockdown Spain

09:09 Using the chat to change the emotional state of the group

13:51 The 3 phases of transformative online experiences

15:50 The 8-step Breakthrough Arc explained

16:16 Creating safety in virtual rooms

18:41 Power prompts vs “Where are you based?”

20:56 Getting cameras & mics on without being pushy

25:45 Keeping energy and focus throughout the session

28:03 Tools Gwen actually uses (Zoom, Miro, StreamAlive)

32:40 Slides or no slides? Finding your own style

35:01 Handling tech when it feels overwhelming

37:21 Why a tech co-pilot can change everything

39:45 How to close sessions so people remember them

42:10 The tiny details that make a huge difference

44:29 1% better every session (and what Mehdi learned from stand-up)

46:54 The Online Engagement Scorecard

49:17 Why virtual facilitation is here to stay

54:08 Mehdi’s reflections on webinars vs workshops

58:54 Facilitation as a lifelong craft

1:01:15 Where to find Gwen & final goodbye ritual

🛠️ Resources and Links

🧭 Gwen’s website https://www.gwynwansbrough.com/

📰 Gwen’s newsletter The Quest https://www.gwynwansbrough.com/newsletter/

📊 Online Engagement Scorecard https://www.gwynwansbrough.com/scorecard/

💌 Mehdi’s site & newsletter www.facilitators-corner.com💼

Connect with Mehdi on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mehdi-en-naizi-75b533116/