Board Presentation Drafting

BOARD DECK: Q3 2024 PERFORMANCE
Slide 1: Executive Summary
- Key Message: "Strong operational performance despite market headwinds"
- 3 Key Points: Revenue +8% vs plan, margin expansion 150bps, strategic initiative X ahead of schedule
- Ask: Approve $50M investment in growth initiative Y

Progress:

• Define key message and board ask upfront
• Structure using pyramid principle (conclusion first, supporting details follow)
• Draft executive summary with 3 key points max
• Build financial performance section with variance analysis
• Create business unit deep dives (max 2-3 slides each)
• Update strategic initiatives with KPI dashboards
• Compile risk assessment with mitigation plans
• Present capital allocation recommendations
• Draft forward outlook with clear guidance
• Add speaker notes for each slide
• Create detailed appendix with backup data

Slide Flow Structure:

1. Executive Summary (1 slide)
2. Financial Performance (3-4 slides)
3. Business Unit Reviews (2-3 slides each)
4. Strategic Initiatives (2-3 slides)
5. Risk Dashboard (1-2 slides)
6. Capital Decisions (1-2 slides)
7. Outlook & Guidance (1-2 slides)

Example 1: Input: Draft Q2 board presentation for SaaS company Output:

SLIDE 5: PRODUCT DIVISION DEEP DIVE
Key Message: Product momentum accelerating with strong customer adoption
• ARR: $45M (+22% YoY, +8% vs plan)
• Customer Count: 1,247 (+156 net new, 98% retention)
• Product Releases: 3 major features shipped, NPS +12 points

Speaker Notes: Highlight the customer success story from Enterprise client. Mention competitive win against [competitor]. Address board question about churn in SMB segment.

BRIDGE CHART: Q2 ARR Growth
Starting ARR (Q1): $41.5M
+ New Bookings: +$4.2M
+ Expansion: +$1.8M
- Churn: -$2.5M
Ending ARR (Q2): $45.0M

Example 2: Input: Risk dashboard for manufacturing company Output:

SLIDE 12: RISK DASHBOARD
Overall Risk Profile: ELEVATED (was Moderate in Q1)

HIGH PRIORITY RISKS:
🔴 Supply Chain Disruption
   Impact: $15M revenue at risk | Probability: 60%
   Mitigation: Dual sourcing initiated, 90-day buffer stock

🟡 Regulatory Compliance (New EPA standards)
   Impact: $8M capex required | Probability: 80%
   Mitigation: Implementation plan approved, Q4 completion

🟢 Talent Retention
   Impact: Contained | Key hires completed in Q2

Speaker Notes: Board should note supply chain risk escalated due to Port of Long Beach delays. Management confident in mitigation plan but watching closely.

Content Structure

• Lead with conclusions, not buildup
• Maximum 3 key points per slide
• Use bridge charts for variance analysis
• Include both absolute and relative metrics
• Always show trend data (QoQ, YoY)

Visual Design

• Executive summary on slide 2 (after agenda)
• Use traffic light colors for risk/status
• Include data tables in appendix, charts in main deck
• Consistent formatting: company colors, fonts
• Leave white space - avoid cramped slides

Speaker Notes

• Write full talking points, not bullet reminders
• Anticipate likely board questions
• Include stories/examples to illustrate points
• Note transitions between sections
• Flag sensitive topics requiring careful messaging

Board-Ready Standards

• All numbers reconciled and verified
• Backup data organized in appendix
• Executive summary tells complete story standalone
• Clear asks/recommendations with rationale
• Professional formatting throughout

• Data dump slides - Board wants insights, not raw data
• Burying the ask - State recommendations upfront and clearly
• Missing variance explanations - Always explain why actuals differ from plan
• Inconsistent metrics - Use same KPIs quarter over quarter
• No appendix - Board will ask detailed questions; be prepared
• Weak speaker notes - Don't rely on slides alone to tell the story
• Missing risk context - Show how risks connect to business performance
• Poor flow - Each slide should logically lead to the next
• Overcomplicated visuals - Simple charts communicate better than complex ones