Ben Sauer

Structure your design presentation for shared understanding

NASA

O'Reilly Media

IKEA

Ustwo Studios

Monzo

Design leader, author, speaker: ex-Babylon Health

Use a strong thematic start that compels people to tune-in.

Get people listening

Structure the narrative to ensure the audience takes it all in.

Hold their attention

Apply a hidden logic to the structure that executives will trust.

Build a strong argument

You're a good designer. Your work solves real problems and creates genuine value. But here's what separates good designers from great ones: great designers get executive buy-in. While good designers focus on craft, great designers focus on communication.While good designers present features, great designers present business impact.While good designers show what they built, great designers prove why it matters. The gap isn't in your design skills. It's in your communication. When you present research findings, executives are trying to connect dots to million-dollar decisions.When you recommend design changes, they want to understand the measurable impact. It's not that your work lacks business value. It's that you're not communicating that value in terms executives understand and trust. Without This Skill:You'll stay excluded from strategic conversations While others make critical product decisions without design inputYour best insights will be overlooked Because stakeholders can't see the connection to business outcomesYou'll be seen as tactical, not strategic Limited to executing ideas instead of shaping themYour value gets questioned As leadership struggles to measure design's ROI The Solution Isn't Better Design Work. It's Better Data Communication. Every department that gets executive respect—sales, marketing, product—speaks in data. They measure impact, quantify outcomes, and present compelling business cases. That's how they earned their seat at the strategy table. As one Design Director told me: "The difference between good and great designers is the great ones can come with data... they bring a package of insights and data that helps sell their ideas and what they've created." When you master data-informed communication, you'll:✓ Get invited to strategy meetings – Because you bring measurable insights about design's business impact✓ Gain influence without political games – Using data your company already has✓ Become a strategic partner – By connecting design decisions to business results✓ Earn the recognition you deserve – As someone who bridges design and business understandingYou don't need an MBA.You need a systematic framework to measure, validate, and communicate design impact in executive terms. This 4-Week Program Transforms Good Designers Into Great Ones:Week 1: Align Design with Business Goals and Measure Design Impact Learn how executives think about metrics and how to connect your design work to outcomes they already care about.Week 2: Turn Problems into Compelling Data Visualizations That Get Buy-In Master the art of visual storytelling with data—making complex insights scannable and persuasive for time-pressed decision-makers.Week 3: Validate Design Solutions from Multiple Stakeholder Perspectives Build bulletproof cases by addressing objections before they arise—using data that speaks to everyone from engineers to executives.Week 4: Present Your Work with Persuasive 5-Minute Executive Presentations Deliver presentations that get immediate approval, not weeks of deliberation. Learn the structure executives expect and the language they respect. Limited to 15 students for personalized coaching. ﻿Training Your Team? Email kai@datainformeddesign.online for bulk pricing.

The Difference between Good and Great Designers? Getting Executives to Buy-in

Course syllabus

I will have live lectures with Q&amp;A, reviewing this week's lessons. These will also be where I review student's exercise and provide live feedback

Mondays and Thursday

In these lectures, I'll dive into the specifics around Data, Narrative, Visuals, and more. This will be a more detailed videos on the stuff I cover live on Mondays and Fridays

Pre-recorded lectures

These exercises, paired with the lecture, will help you practice the concepts you learn from lectures

Weekly projects and exercises

Course schedule

Designers who want to use data to bypass office politics and prove their value immediately

Designers tired of watching 'strategic' roles like PMs get promoted while their insights are ignored

Designers in low-UX maturity environments where relationship-building isn't enough

Mid-level designers whose great ideas get dismissed by skeptical executives

Who is this course for

What you'll walk away with 

Get the frameworks that allow decision-makers immediately see how your design work connects to business metrics, not just beautiful interfaces.

A Portfolio That Speaks Executive Language in 30 Seconds

Get the exact questions that reframe conversations and expose weak thinking when executives challenge your designs with opinions.

The Question Framework: How to Win Stakeholder Arguments Without Being Defensive

You don't need to buy a fancy tool to have an impact. Prove design value through simple experiments that connect your decisions to business outcomes they already track.

ROI Experiments You Can Run With Tools You Already Have 

Transform any project into a portfolio piece that demonstrates strategic thinking with step-by-step guidance.

Plug-and-Play Templates for Design Case studies

Apply these frameworks to YOUR actual work, so you're ready for your next big presentation, interview, or portfolio review.

60 Minutes of Personalized Coaching

Master Data Storytelling: The Presentation Framework that Positions You as a Strategic Partner instead of Just a Designer.

Private cohort

October Cohort

Christopher Kai Wong

Top Design Writer on Medium (325+ design articles). Data-Informed Design Expert.

September Cohort

November Cohort

In today's AI-saturated world, stakeholders are buried in data and auto-generated content. But content alone doesn't win buy-in. It doesn't move hearts or change minds. What stands out? A message that's clear, resonant, and impossible to ignore.&nbsp; You need persuasion. When every PM has access to the same AI tools, persuasion is the one skill that becomes your unfair advantage – the human edge AI can't replicate. Without it… That critical budget you need?&nbsp;Out of reach. The headcount you're pushing for?&nbsp;Denied. The dependency you need prioritized?&nbsp;Not happening. The promotion you deserve?&nbsp;Maybe next year. Without the power to persuade, you're stuck on the sidelines. Others who can rally teams, secure resources, and inspire action move forward. Their products get funded. They're given a seat at the table. And when the time comes – they get promoted. Meanwhile, you stay in place, struggling to gain traction. I get it. Convincing people to take action&nbsp;can be frustrating. You have a vision. You have a strategy. You have a plan. You have&nbsp;all&nbsp;the things. Yet, despite your strong – maybe even groundbreaking – ideas, they get lost in endless rounds of approval. Stakeholders are indecisive. Leadership hesitates, and asks "for more data". You find yourself trapped in an endless cycle of planning, proposals, and presentations.&nbsp; I've been in your shoes. For a long time, I felt stuck while others seemed to move forward effortlessly. But I found a system that helped me break through the noise – one that took me from leading a team of 5 to leading a 300+ org at Google, and helped me secure 9-digit budgets and close Fortune 50 partnerships. And now, I'm going to teach you my system. - - - - - HOW THIS COURSE WILL TRANSFORM YOU:You'll become known as the PM who can rally a room, persuade senior leaders, and shape strategy through influence – not just ideas. You'll be able to frame your message to be persuasive, engaging, and memorable – in every meeting, presentation, or written update. You'll walk away with a repeatable system to craft your message for impact. Whether you're pitching a roadmap, defending a strategy, or asking for resources, you'll know exactly how to make your message land with power and clarity. 100% RISK-FREE GUARANTEE:I'm so confident this course will transform the way you persuade – if you attend the live sessions and complete the projects but don't feel a significant shift in your ability to persuade, I'll refund your full tuition. I stand behind your success. YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE IF:- You want execs to stop seeing you as a solid PM and start seeing you as a leader.- You want to turn your ideas into outcomes – not just discussions.- You want your vision to ignite excitement, not indifference.- You want people to take action immediately – not just nod their heads politely.- You want to confidently control the room, even when you're not the most senior person in it.- You want to build a reputation that travels ahead of you into every new role. The most important reason:👉🏼 If you want to be a Product Leader, learning how to influence at scale is an absolute must. WHAT'S INSIDE:Here are just some of the topics we'll cover: → 4-Step Story Framework→ 3 Core Principles of Great Storytelling→ Create Your Story Map→ Design Your Narrative Flow→ Captivate Your Audience's Attention→ Design Amazing Decks,&nbsp;Fast→ Control the Room with Ease→ Close the Loop the Right Way→ Amplify Your New Superpower Plus: Projects, Instructor/Peer Feedback, and Live Coaching BONUS:For this upcoming cohort, I am including a 30-minute private "Ask Me Anything" session you can use within 6 months of the course. We can work on one of your pitches together. We can talk about your career. Or we can cover something else. It's your choice! - - - - - WHY LEARN FROM ME?I wasn't born a natural storyteller. It's a skill I built over 25 years by studying the world's best copywriters, deconstructing compelling arguments, and relentlessly practicing my craft. It became my edge. In fact, my ability to "frame and persuade" was specifically cited when I was asked to lead a 300+ org at Google. Now, I teach this system to the next generation of Product Leaders – through courses, corporate workshops, and product conferences. HEAR WHAT PAST STUDENTS HAVE TO SAY: "I love that this course is so concise, direct, and filled with practical frameworks, advice, and tips."- Director of PM @ Google "I find myself using Roshan’s framework every day, both at work and at home."- Chief Product Officer @ Provi "The signal to noise ratio is off the charts!"- Product Leader @ Electronic Arts "What stood out was how practical it was – I could apply everything right away."- Founder @ Startup "I gained so much in such a short amount of time from this incredibly effective workshop."- PM @ Google

Influence is THE #1 skill for Product Managers.

12–2pm Eastern • 5–7pm London • 10:30pm–12:30am India Topics include:<ul><li>4-Step Story Framework</li><li>3 Core Principles of Great Storytelling</li><li>Story Maps</li><li>Design Your Narrative</li><li>Captivate Your Audience</li><li>Design Amazing Decks, Fast</li><li>Control the Room</li><li>Close the Loop</li><li>Amplify Your New Superpower</li></ul>

Day 1 | Day 3 | Day 4 – Core Sessions

12–2pm Eastern • 5–7pm London • 10:30pm–12:30am India Volunteer students get live coaching on their real pitches using the Story Map. Seeing pitches sharpen in real-time is often the most eye-opening part of the workshop. Ends with an open Q&amp;A/AMA.

Day 2 – Live Coaching + AMA (Optional)

After Days 1 &amp; 3, you'll get an optional exercise to apply what you've learned. Submit for my feedback, and share with the cohort for peer input. Quick, actionable, and highly recommended to sharpen your skills.

At-Home Practice & Feedback (Optional)

For this upcoming cohort, I am including a private 30-minute "Ask Me Anything" session you can use within 6 months of the course. We can work on one of your pitches together. We can talk about your career. Or we can cover something else. It's your choice!

Private AMA Session with Roshan (BONUS)

Mid-level to Senior-level Product Managers looking to ascend to leadership roles.

Product Leaders looking to hone their skill and coach their teams to be more influential.

Ambitious early-career PMs aiming for rapid career growth.

Who this course is for

What you’ll get out of this course

Most people lack a systematic way to create stories. Every time they have to create one, they start from scratch – which is so much harder.

Craft persuasive stories with a clear, repeatable system

Most people assume the audience will pay attention. That's not how it works. You must learn to make people&nbsp;want&nbsp;to hear you.

Make your message irresistible to your audience

Your audience won't take action just because you told them to. You must learn to make your arguments&nbsp;convincing.

Drive decisions and action with the strength of your message

Learn how to walk into any meeting or exec review with a clear story, total confidence, and full control.

Own the room and present with calm authority

Become known as the PM who can rally a room, persuade senior leaders, and shape strategy through influence – not just ideas.

Build a career-defining reputation as an influential storyteller

Get direct feedback and tactical advice from Roshan through exercises, Q&amp;A, and a private coaching session – so you can apply the course to your real-world work right away.

Personalized 1:1 guidance

Turn ideas into outcomes. Master the persuasive storytelling system I used to secure 9-digit budgets & close Fortune 50 deals at Google.

Google

Yahoo

Oracle

Bazaarvoice

Roshan Gupta

Cohort 2

Cohort 3

In this 90-minute workshop, you’ll learn to develop practical storytelling frameworks that turn complex ideas into clear, memorable narratives that win attention, build credibility, and move decisions. We’ll apply these tools to high-stakes moments — executive updates, all-hands meetings, sales or campaign pitches — as well as everyday conversations. This isn’t a writing class or an AI hack (though we’ll cover both) – it’s a masterclass in learning to simplify and align messages, structure stories for engagement, and tailor delivery for different audiences. We’ll cover using AI thoughtfully to draft, iterate, and stress-test content without outsourcing your voice. The result? Stronger influence, tighter cross-functional alignment, and stories that make people lean in. You’ll walk away with enhanced skills to:• Turn presentations and pitches into compelling narratives that capture attention and build trust• Simplify your messages for clarity and team alignment• Use storytelling to reinforce culture, mission, and values Bonus: The same tools work outside of work — for toasts, job interviews, even eulogies. More than anything, you’ll see storytelling as a leadership superpower — and gain the confidence to share stories that make people lean in, trust you, and say three magic words: tell me more.

Strong Storytelling Is a Tool for Influence, Culture, and Impact

If your events are recurring and at the same time, it might be easiest to use a single line item to communicate your course schedule to students

Tuesdays & Thursdays

Feel free to type out dates as your title as a way to communicate information about specific live sessions or other events.

May 7, 2022

Schedule items can also be used to convey commitments outside of specific time slots (like weekly projects or daily office hours).

Weekly projects

Leaders companies who want to nail their value proposition for internal team alignment and external messaging

Founders, comms officers, HR directors, and other leaders navigating transitions such as funding rounds, growth, M&amp;A, hybrid workplaces

Professionals looking to grow in their current role or seek a new role now asking this vital question: How can I be a better storyteller?

Who is this course for...

The ROI on ROS (Return on Story) 

Good leaders build smart strategies, but influence and transformation aren't born from spreadsheets and flowcharts. To win hearts and minds, great leaders get buy in by painting a picture of their vision and taking others along on the ride.

Build Trust and Credibility

Stories are memorable and more motivating than data (the data, ironically, tells us that). Good storytelling helps win client interactions, sales calls, pitch presentations, and job interviews.

Closing Deals

Communicating the story of your "Why?”— the underlying purpose of your personal brand or your company's mission — is vital both for internal alignment and external engagement (it's why Simon Sinek's "Start With Why" TED Talk has 12 million views).

Nailing Your "Why?"

Gain the benefits of storytelling as a meta-skill: it doesn't just make you a better communicator, it elevates how you show up in every part of life.

Amplifying a Lifelong Skill

In 90 minutes, I will make you a better storyteller for the rest of your life.

Dell Technologies

Levi Strauss & Co.

Nuveen

Dropbox

ESPN

Larry Smith

Great Storytelling Is a Tool for Influence, Shaping Culture, and Team Connection at Work —  Let's Harness It.

Cohort 1

Get a decision-maker-ready playbook and real-time feedback so your next proposal lands with confidence. In this 2.5-hour live lab, you’ll run your real situation through the L.A.T.T.E. Framework to build your Influence Playbook a concise, data-driven plan that connects your idea to what decision-makers value most. You’ll map who holds the keys to approval, identify priorities across revenue, efficiency, cost, people, and alignment, and craft a ready-to-send proposal email you can use immediately after the session. This is not theory. It’s a hands-on, guided working session where you write, test, and refine your message in real time. You’ll practice power phrases, pressure-check your framing, and leave with a complete playbook and a clear communication strategy for your next conversation with leadership. What you get in 2.5 hoursA fully built Influence Playbook that ties your proposal to measurable business metrics. A clear Decision-Maker Map showing where to focus and how to navigate approval. A short, customizable script and ready-to-send proposal email for real-world use.Live coaching, peer feedback, and templates you can reuse across future projects. You’ll finish the lab knowing exactly how to speak in the language of results and how to get a faster yes.

Build your Playbook Blueprint and Receive Personal feedback in Real Time

Want a quick hack instead of a repeatable negotiation framework.

Who This Is Not For:

Are looking for theory with no practice, you won’t just “listen,” you’ll apply LATTE to your real work.

Are comfortable waiting to be recognized

Don’t have a stake in high-impact conversations at work. If your role doesn’t involve influencing decisions, you won’t get the ROI.

Prefer surface-level tips from TikTok or random blogs

What You’ll Get Out of This Live LabUnderstand how decision-makers think and what drives their yes. You’ll analyze real priorities and connect your ideas to measurable business goals. You’ll leave with a completed Influence Playbook that includes your personalized Decision-Make

One Live Lab

Who This Is ForThis lab is for professionals who lead through influence — not title. You’re already doing the work, but your ideas aren’t always getting the traction they deserve.It’s designed for:<ul><li>Mid-career individual contributors and managers with 5–15 years of experience.</li></ul>

Live Lab This Is Not A Lecture

You’ll leave with templates, language guides, and a structure you can reuse for any high-stakes conversation.

One Project 

Mid-career individual contributors and managers with 8–19 years of experience

Mid-level ManagersLearn to customize the influence map to win buy-in, secure resources, and move your career forward.

People preparing for budget approvals, promotions, or project pitches who need to speak with more clarity and authority.

This is not for you if… You’re looking for generic leadership theory, a pep talk, or you’re not ready to put strategies into action today

What you’ll get out of this Live Lab

You’ll analyze real priorities and connect your ideas to measurable business goals. You’ll leave with a completed Influence Playbook that includes your personalized Decision-Maker Map.

Understand how decision-makers think and what drives their yes.

You’ll apply the five-step method to turn your proposal into a clear business case that leaders can act on.

Build persuasive messages using the L.A.T.T.E. Framework.

You’ll write a short, focused message that links your work to outcomes that matter most to leadership. You’ll finish the session with a ready-to-send proposal email.

Translate performance and potential into a compelling proposal.

You’ll test your talk track, refine your power phrases, and get live feedback that sharpens how you speak under pressure.

Practice confident communication in real time.

Create a repeatable system for every future pitch or request.

If you’ve been doing the work but not getting the visibility or yeses you’ve earned, this is your signal to stop waiting and start leading the conversation.

Reclaim your influence.

In 2.5 Hours, you'll command executive presence that gets you noticed, respected, and promoted.