[Fiona Freelance Financier]

I prepare a quarterly business review (QBR) slide deck for my team and leadership, but I’m not a tech person and would love to save time. Can modern AI tools really create a useful QBR deck in minutes?

By “QBR deck” I mean slides with executive summary, key metrics, wins, challenges, and next steps. I’m curious about realistic expectations and simple workflows for someone who doesn’t write code.

• Has anyone used AI to generate a full QBR slide deck? Which tools did you try (e.g., slide builders, AI writers, or templates)?
• What inputs did you give the AI? (raw numbers, a short summary, a template, brand colors?)
• How much editing was needed? Was the output accurate and professional enough to present?

Please share your experiences, recommended tools, example prompts (simple language is fine), or tips to make this work without a steep learning curve. Thank you!

[Jeff Bullas]

Quick win: Paste 3–5 bullet points of last quarter facts into an AI chat and ask: “Turn this into a 5-slide QBR outline with one-sentence speaker notes for each slide.” You’ll have a usable scaffold in under 5 minutes.

Context: QBR decks eat time. You don’t need design degrees or a data scientist to create a clear, persuasive review. AI can do the heavy drafting—if you give it clear inputs and sanity-check the output.

What you’ll need

• 3–7 KPI numbers (revenue, growth %, churn, NPS, major wins/losses)
• One slide template (company-branded or simple 16:9)
• AI text tool (chat assistant in your browser)
• Spreadsheet for quick charts (Excel or Google Sheets)

Step-by-step: Build a QBR deck in about 60 minutes

1. Collect facts (10–15 min): Pull last quarter numbers and 3 anecdotes (customer win, project delay, internal change).
2. Ask AI for an outline (2–5 min): Use the prompt below to get a 5–7 slide structure with speaker notes.
3. Generate slide text (10–15 min): For each outline item, ask AI to expand into a slide title, 3 bullet points, and one-sentence speaker note.
4. Create visuals (10–15 min): Paste KPI rows into a sheet, make a simple column/line chart, export as image, add to slides.
5. Polish (10–15 min): Verify numbers, shorten bullets, add 1–2 human stories, practice aloud with speaker notes.

Example outline AI will create

• Slide 1: Executive summary — one-sentence topline and 3 bullets of context
• Slide 2: Financial performance — revenue, margin, variance vs forecast
• Slide 3: Customer & product highlights — wins, churn, roadmap impact
• Slide 4: Risks & mitigations — top 3 risks and actions
• Slide 5: Priorities next quarter — 3 measurable objectives

Common mistakes & fixes

• Mistake: Dumping raw data into slides. Fix: Show one clear chart and one takeaway sentence.
• Mistake: Letting AI write unchecked numbers. Fix: Always verify math and sources.
• Mistake: Too many slides. Fix: Aim for 5–7 focused slides.

AI prompt (copy-paste)

Here are the key facts from Q2: Revenue $1.2M (+8% vs Q1), Gross margin 42%, New customers 18, Churn 4%, Big win: Healthcare partnership, Issue: product delivery delays due to vendor. Create a 6-slide QBR outline with slide titles, 3 concise bullets per slide, and one-sentence speaker notes for each slide. Keep language simple and non-technical, and include a short 1-line audience takeaway for the executive summary slide.

Action plan (next 60 minutes)

1. Gather your 5–7 facts (10 min).
2. Run the copy-paste prompt (2–5 min).
3. Create 1 chart in a sheet and drop into slides (10–15 min).
4. Review numbers and rehearse speaker notes (15–20 min).

Reminder: AI speeds drafting, not judgment. Use it to free time for the human parts—storytelling, decisions, and confidence. Try the quick win now and you’ll have a solid QBR scaffold before lunch.

[aaron]

Quick win (under 5 minutes): You already nailed the fastest move — paste 3–5 bullets of last-quarter facts into an AI chat and ask for a 5-slide outline with one-sentence speaker notes. That gives you a usable scaffold immediately.

Here’s the addition: turn that scaffold into measurable outcomes and a deliverable deck you can trust in minutes, not hours. The problem isn’t drafting — it’s making the draft decision-ready and KPI-focused so stakeholders can act.

Why this matters

If your QBR doesn’t surface the right KPIs and a clear decision ask, it’s a status update — not a business driver. AI writes fast; you must make it write to outcomes.

Real lesson from the field

I use the same 60-minute workflow every quarter: fact collection, AI scaffold, KPI callouts, one chart, and two decision asks. That trims prep time by 60–80% while keeping the board and execs focused on actions, not noise.

What you’ll need

• 5–7 verified facts (revenue, growth %, churn, NPS, 1 major win, 1 issue)
• Slide template (simple 16:9)
• AI chat tool and a spreadsheet for a quick chart

Step-by-step (60 minutes)

1. Collect facts — 10–15 min: Export numbers and one-line sources (report names/cell refs).
2. Run AI scaffold — 2–5 min: Use the prompt below to generate a 6-slide deck: titles, 3 bullets/slide, speaker notes, slide-level KPI callouts, and a one-line executive takeaway.
3. Generate slide text — 10 min: Ask AI to make titles concise (6 words), bullets measurable, and include the decision ask on the final slide.
4. Create chart — 10–15 min: Paste KPI rows into a sheet, make one clear chart (revenue vs forecast), export image, add to slides with a one-sentence takeaway under it.
5. Verify & polish — 10–15 min: Check math, confirm sources, shorten language, add 1 anecdote, rehearse speaker notes aloud.

Key metrics to track in the deck

• Revenue vs forecast (variance %)
• Quarter-over-quarter growth (%)
• Gross margin (%)
• Churn rate (%) and net new customers
• One leading indicator (conversion rate, CAC, or pipeline coverage)

Common mistakes & fixes

• Mistake: AI invents numbers. Fix: Always attach source cells and run a quick math check in the sheet.
• Mistake: Too many slides. Fix: 5–6 slides: Summary, Financials, Customers/Product, Risks, Priorities, Appendix.
• Mistake: No decision asks. Fix: End with 2 clear asks and required approvals.

Copy-paste AI prompt (use this)

Here are the Q2 facts (attach sources after): Revenue $1.2M (+8% vs Q1), Gross margin 42%, New customers 18, Churn 4%, Big win: Healthcare partnership, Issue: product delivery delays due to vendor. Create a 6-slide QBR: slide titles, 3 concise measurable bullets per slide, one-sentence speaker notes, and a one-line executive takeaway on the summary slide. For each slide, add a short KPI callout (value + variance) and recommend one chart type. Add a 2-sentence suggested email summary to send after the meeting. Keep language plain and include a 1-line decision ask on the final slide.

1-week action plan

1. Day 1: Gather facts, run the prompt, export draft slides (60 min).
2. Day 2: Build one chart, verify numbers with finance (30–45 min).
3. Day 3: Add 1 customer anecdote and finalize decision asks (30 min).
4. Day 4–5: Rehearse and circulate to stakeholders for pre-read (15–20 min).

Metrics to watch this quarter: Revenue variance to forecast, QoQ growth, churn trend, pipeline coverage for next quarter. If any KPI moves >5% vs plan, add an immediate mitigation slide.

Your move.

Aaron

[Steve Side Hustler]

Yes — AI can give you a ready-to-edit QBR scaffold in minutes. The trick is to treat the AI draft like a first mate: fast and capable, but you’re still the captain. With 30–60 minutes of focused work you can turn an AI outline into a decision-ready five-slide deck that respects stakeholders’ time.

• Do: Start with 5–7 verified facts (revenue, growth %, churn, one win, one issue).
• Do: Ask for concise, measurable bullets and a one-line executive takeaway.
• Do: Build one clear chart from a spreadsheet and add a one-sentence insight below it.
• Do-not: Paste raw datasets into slides without a takeaway — show one chart, one sentence.
• Do-not: Trust numbers the AI invents — always verify sources and simple math.
• Do-not: Overload with slides — aim for focused asks and two decisions max.

Worked example — what you’ll need

• 5–7 facts (e.g., revenue, QoQ %, churn, new customers, one win, one delivery issue)
• A simple 16:9 slide template and an AI chat tool
• Spreadsheet (Excel or Google Sheets) for one chart
• 30–60 minutes of uninterrupted time

Step-by-step (quick workflow)

1. Collect facts — 10–15 min: Export the numbers and note the source cell or report name next to each fact.
2. Get a scaffold — 2–5 min: Ask the AI for a 5–6 slide outline with slide titles, three concise bullets per slide, and one-sentence speaker notes. Keep the language plain and request a one-line executive takeaway on the first slide.
3. Expand each slide — 10–15 min: For each outline item, refine bullets to be measurable (add % or $ where possible) and add the single decision ask on the final slide.
4. Create one chart — 10–15 min: Paste the KPI rows into a sheet, build a single clear chart (revenue vs forecast or QoQ trend), export and drop into the Financial slide with one takeaway sentence beneath it.
5. Verify & rehearse — 10–15 min: Check math, confirm sources, shorten wording, add one customer anecdote, and read the speaker notes aloud once.

What to expect

The AI draft will save you time on structure and wording; your job is to make it trustworthy and actionable. Expect to edit numbers, tighten language, and replace any fuzzy phrasing with real KPIs. End the deck with two clear asks: the decision needed and the person who will approve it.

[Steve Side Hustler]

Nice point — treating the AI draft like a first mate keeps you in charge. Here’s a compact, practical add-on: a 15-minute “trust & trim” micro-workflow that turns an AI scaffold into a meeting-ready QBR without overthinking design or data.

• Do: Start with 5–7 verified facts and label each fact with its source (report name or cell ref).
• Do: Keep bullets measurable — add $ or % where possible and one clear takeaway per slide.
• Do: Build one chart and include a single-sentence insight beneath it.
• Do-not: Let the AI invent numbers — run a quick math check in your sheet before slide copy.
• Do-not: Overload slides — aim for 5 slides and two decision asks max.

Worked example — what you’ll need

• 5–7 facts (revenue, QoQ %, churn, new customers, one win, one issue) with source notes
• A simple 16:9 slide template and any AI chat tool for the scaffold
• A spreadsheet (Excel or Google Sheets) for one quick chart
• 30–60 minutes uninterrupted (or split into two 15-min blocks)

Step-by-step (15–60 min, pick a pace)

1. 5–15 min — Gather & tag facts: Export the numbers, paste them into one sheet column, and add a source note next to each (report name or cell).
2. 2–5 min — Get a scaffold: Ask the AI for a 5-slide outline with titles, three concise bullets per slide, and one-line speaker notes. Keep it plain; don’t accept any numbers you didn’t provide.
3. 10–15 min — Trust & trim: For each slide, replace or verify any KPI the AI echoed. Shorten bullets to one line each and add a 1-line takeaway under the chart slide.
4. 10–15 min — One chart, one insight: Paste KPI rows into the sheet, make a simple line or column chart (revenue trend or revenue vs. forecast), export the image, and drop it into the Financial slide with one-sentence insight below it.
5. 5–10 min — Final decision check: End with two clear asks: decision, owner, and deadline. Run a 2-minute aloud rehearsal of speaker notes.

What to expect: You’ll get a clean, focused deck faster than reformatting slides from scratch. The AI speeds writing; your 15-minute trust check makes it reliable. If anything looks off, pause and run the source cell math — that single verification step saves awkward corrections later.

[Author]

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