How to Build Pretty Slide Decks to Drive Executive Decisions
Alexader Harlan
Finance Program Manager @ Google
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Turning complex ideas into beautiful slide decks that drive executive decisions
You’ve done the analysis, mapped the process, cleaned up the data, and found the story buried inside the work.
But then the deck falls flat.
Too many slides. Too much text. No clear agenda. No storyline. No framework. The aesthetics aren’t there, and the room struggles to understand what matters, why it matters, and what decision needs to be made.
The problem isn’t the work.
It’s the way the work is presented.
“How to Build Pretty Slide Decks” is the complete system for building beautiful slide decks that drive executive decisions.
You’ll learn how to turn complex problems into clear narratives, structure agendas, build framework slides, visualize process and systems flows, use AI to move faster, and adapt your story for any stakeholder.
This system comes from real work at Google, where I’m known as the “artist” for creating top-tier decks across my team and finance org. These decks have helped drive decisions around month-end close, automation, and AI adoption in finance.
This is not another workshop with pretty templates and generic slide tips. You’re leaving with an eye for "seeing through pixels" and how to frame problems, adapt the story, and build decks that move decisions forward.
What you’ll learn
Learn how to go from messy, forgettable slides to beautiful executive-ready decks that drive real decisions
Understand the core rules of high-impact slide decks: clarity, structure, spacing, consistency, and decision-driven storytelling
Learn how to avoid common slide mistakes, including overcrowded layouts, weak titles, inconsistent formatting, and unclear takeaways
Build decks with a clear purpose, agenda, storyline, and flow so every slide earns its place
Learn how to structure executive summaries that communicate the answer, context, recommendation, and next step quickly
Turn complex analysis into crisp, leadership-ready takeaways that executives can understand in seconds
Use headlines, supporting points, and visual hierarchy to make the key message impossible to miss
Learn how to create framework slides that organize messy ideas into clear buckets, phases, pillars, or decision paths
Turn processes, workflows, systems, and problems into clean visual slides using swimlanes, arrows, timelines, matrices, and layered diagrams
Build consulting-style slides that help stakeholders understand the problem, follow the logic, and align on next steps
Learn how to use text hierarchy, spacing, alignment, colors, icons, shapes, and formatting to make slides feel clean and professional
Build a consistent theme across your deck so every slide feels connected, intentional, and executive-ready
Develop an eye for “seeing through the pixels” so you can improve any slide, whether using a template or building from scratch
Learn how to use AI to brainstorm slide angles, generate storyline options, and turn messy thoughts into structured deck outlines
Use AI to refine slide titles, sharpen executive summaries, simplify complex messages, and pressure-test whether your logic is clear
Build an AI-assisted workflow that helps you move faster without making your deck feel generic, robotic, or template-driven
Learn how to adapt your message for executives, technical teams, finance partners, engineering stakeholders, and non-technical audiences
Understand how to present slides with confidence, guide the room through the logic, and handle questions without losing the storyline
Learn when to use animation, when to keep slides simple, and how to make your deck support the conversation instead of distracting from it
Workshop agenda
Foundations of Slide Deck Building
Slide Deck Rules | Decision-Driven Storytelling | Clear Agendas | Slide Flow | Common Mistakes | Consulting-Level Structure
Creating Executive Summaries
Executive Summary Structure | Recommendation Framing | Key Takeaways | Decision Context | Leadership-Ready Messaging | Clear Next Steps
Building Framework Slides
Problem Framing | Buckets, Pillars & Phases | Strategic Frameworks | Alignment Slides | Logic Flow | Consulting-Style Slide Structures
Visualizing Process & Systems Flows
Process Flow Slides | Systems Thinking | Swimlanes | Timelines | Arrows & Connectors | Turning Complexity Into Visual Clarity
Designing With Visual Hierarchy
Text Hierarchy | Spacing & Alignment | Colors | Icons | Shapes | Formatting | Slide Themes | Seeing Through the Pixels
Accelerating Slide Deck Building With AI
AI Slide Ideation | Storyline Generation | Executive Summary Refinement | Slide Title Sharpening | Prompting for Visual Concepts | Pressure-Testing Logic
Presenting & Communicating Your Slides
Talk Tracks | Guiding the Room | When to Use Animation | Handling Questions | Driving Alignment | Turning Slides Into Decisions
Learn directly from Alexader
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Alexader Harlan
Finance PgM @ Google | 1,400+ Clients Served | Founder @ Summit Resume
Who this workshop is for
You’re tired of making slides that look messy, crowded, or “not quite there” no matter how much time you spend formatting
You have strong ideas, analysis, or recommendations, but struggle to turn them into slides that look clean, structured, and executive-ready
You want to build an actual eye for slide design so you can stop relying on random templates and start creating decks that look intentional
What's included
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Live sessions
Learn directly from Alexader Harlan in a real-time, interactive format.
Lifetime access
Go back to course content and recordings whenever you need to.
Community of peers
Stay accountable and share insights with like-minded professionals.
Certificate of completion
Share your new skills with your employer or on LinkedIn.
$1,000 in Bonuses
Slide Deck Templates (Process Flows, Exec Summaries, Framework, etc) | 60-Min 1:1 Session to Deep Dive on Your Slides | Slide Audit Checklist | AI Prompt Library | Before & Afters
Maven Guarantee
Your purchase is backed by the Maven Guarantee.
Testimonials
I got another comment from an external consultant today on how beautiful the intakes deck is. You might need to pivot into consulting!
Erik C.
Finance Program Manager | GoogleMy director was AMAZED at the slide deck I presented at today's leadership update. Thank you for your insights on building an eye for slide deck building.
Chrisil K.
Software Engineer | GoogleI'm a numbers guy, and never really had a knack for design, let along building slides! My team would always have to iterate on my slides whenever we had to present. What makes Alex stand out is how he clearly showed before and after use cases which I found helpful. He has a surprisingly structured framework for slide deck building which helped me finally breakthrough that "design" barrier. Now my slides aren't half bad!
Peter J.
Data Engineer | Google
Frequently asked questions
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