One gem I've learned as CEO in the tech industry is emphasizing the 'why' when sharing complex data. It's not enough to say numbers are up or down; non-technical stakeholders need to know what that means for their end-game. Tailor your analysis to answer their questions before they ask: If profits have increased, how does this impact our company's goals? Direct answers wrapped with context and relevance not only simplify the data, but they also spark discussions that lead us to new discoveries and strategize for future success.
Keep it simple. As a data science manager, I've learned to always tailor communications to the specific audience. Non-technical stakeholders already trust the data scientists to handle the complexities of analytical rigor and statistical significance. They appreciate and respect the data scientist even more for taking the extra step to explain the business relevance in simple terms. For me, over the past 12 years, I’ve coached my data science teams to simplify their key headlines down to one “magic” number that’s quotable by the audience to others. The headline should also indicate whether the findings were good or bad or prescriptive for the business. For example, “We expect +X% higher revenue if we do Y.” Regardless of the complexity of the behind-the-scene data analysis, a simple headline like this example will be repeated virally throughout the company to drive action, citing the data science team.
Kickoff your presentation with a highly visual overview slide that uses very little words followed by an executive summary slide using the Minto method. If you are not familiar with the Minto Method, just search for it through your preferred search engine. Do not dive into data analysis, modeling, or deep technical details to start. Executive audiences care about business results - saving money, making money, or making customers happy.