Elevate your expertise in descriptive panel leadership.

Descriptive Panel Leadership 2: Advanced Leadership & Analytical Expertise

This advanced, highly applied course focuses on strengthening analytical thinking, strategic leadership, and data-driven decision making. Participants work with complex data, explore monitoring and calibration techniques, and practice communicating insights to cross-functional stakeholders.

The course culminates in a final applied project and presentation, where participants integrate course concepts to address real-world panel leadership challenges.

Course Schedule and Information

On Tuesday, November 10th, we will have a light breakfast available beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET, and the course will begin at 9 a.m. ET. Tuesday and Wednesday we will finish around 4 to 5 p.m. The course will wrap up on Thursday, November 12th around noon. We will have grab and go lunch options available for those that are traveling.

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DPL 2 is designed for experienced descriptive panel leaders who are comfortable with foundational concepts and are ready to deepen their expertise. This course is ideal for panel leaders responsible for data interpretation, reporting, panel monitoring, and long-term panel performance, as well as for panel leaders looking to grow in their role by learning more about these skills.

Monitor and interpret individual and panel-level performance metrics
Apply advanced scaling, calibration, and troubleshooting techniques
Analyze and interpret descriptive data using advanced analytical concepts
Translate complex data into clear, actionable insights for stakeholders
Address advanced panel challenges such as drift, fatigue, and performance inconsistency
Design research protocols to support cross-functional business needs
Develop long-term strategies for panel growth, innovation, and impact

During this advanced course, you will actively apply analytical and leadership concepts through hands-on workshops, data-driven exercises, and peer exchange. You will:

Analyze real or simulated descriptive data sets to interpret panel and panelist performance
Practice monitoring, diagnosing, and troubleshooting issues such as panel drift, fatigue, and scale compression
Apply advanced lexicon development techniques across complex or unfamiliar product categories
Design and critique research protocols to support cross-functional business questions
Translate complex results into clear, decision-focused stories for stakeholders
Explore strategies for coaching panelists and driving behavior change
Collaborate with peers to solve advanced panel leadership challenges and share best practices
Examine approaches for panel innovation, including new methods, remote panels, or evolving product spaces
Develop and present a final applied project, integrating course concepts to address a real-world panel leadership challenge
Receive peer and instructor feedback to strengthen your analytical and leadership approach

Strengthen your ability to interpret and communicate data effectively
Improve panel quality through advanced monitoring and troubleshooting
Learn through applied exercises, real-world case studies, and peer exchange

2.5 days (2 full days + ½ day)
Workshop-style format with fewer lectures and more hands-on learning
Culminates in a participant project and presentation, with peer and instructor feedback
Emphasis on application, discussion, and problem-solving

Prior experience leading descriptive panels is strongly recommended
Participants may attend without having taken DPL 1 if they already meet expectations
Includes peer feedback, knowledge exchange, and applied learning

Get to know us

Instructors

Lisa Schroeder

Lisa Schroeder currently serves as a Project Manager, Product Understanding at Sensory Spectrum with expertise in all aspects of panel execution. Lisa has over twenty years of experience forming, training, leading, and managing both descriptive analysis and quality panels. She has also overseen and maintained sensory quality programs in food manufacturing production. She enjoys developing protocols for training panels as well as creating protocols for challenging attributes and categories. She has trained panels in Europe and Asia and has spent hundreds of hours assisting with developing scales and references relevant to international local markets and palates. Lisa has a passion for coaching and mentoring panel leaders and is also adept at helping panelists understand complicated methodology. Lisa has worked in the field of sensory for over 20 years and has held positions in food manufacturing sensory quality, panel leadership and panel management.

Deanna Fiedler

Deanna Fiedler has dedicated 15 years to the field of Sensory Science and currently holds the position of Project Manager of Consulting at Sensory Spectrum. She specializes in the sensory evaluation of food, beverages, and aromas. Deanna excels in client engagement, study design, execution, and results reporting. Her extensive experience includes leading and training sensory panels and panel leaders. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Food Science from Rutgers University.

Descriptive Panel Leadership 2: Advanced Leadership & Analytical Expertise

Course Schedule and Information

Course Description

Who Should Attend

What You Will Learn

What You Will Do

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Course Format & Length

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Instructors

Lisa Schroeder

Deanna Fiedler

Course Lessons

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