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

Learn storytelling systems proven for any occasion. 🪜 Identify your strengths to create, deliver and refine your first story 🎬 Start building a portfolio of stories to draw upon. 📚 If your success depends on moving others to act, you’ll find tools here to transform how you communicate.

Turn each idea into a story that wins buy-in, inspires customers & drives action

Course syllabus

5PM-7PM PST<ul><li>Session 1: Storytelling &amp; You - What is a story and stories in your life</li><li>Session 2: The Science of Stories - concepts and why they work</li><li>Session 3: Scripting &amp; Toolbox - applying what you've learnt</li><li>Session 4: Delivering Your Project - review, rework, practice</li></ul>

Weekly Workshop 

You will work on one primary storytelling project throughout the class. You'll begin with an introductory storytelling exercise. Subsequently each week you'll work on the identified talk/presentation/story continuously refining towards a final presentation.

Personal Project

Each week, we'll have one discussion board to review takeaways from pre-readings and learnings from previous session. Separately you will also provide peer feedback on others' work during live meetings and in-between classes.

Weekly Discussion

Optional office hours follow the 1st and 3rd workshops.<ul><li>AMA with Sri &amp; Bikash</li><li>Peer networking session in week 1</li></ul>

2 Bonus Session (optional)

Course schedule

Product Managers who want leadership to back bold ideas and align teams with ease.

Marketing &amp; Sales Leaders eager to win strategy approval, inspire customers, and persuade clients.

Engineering Managers who must convince execs and non-technical stakeholders with clear, simple stories.

Who is this course for

After taking this course you'll...

Present without anxiety, whether in a small meeting or on a big stage.

Influence with confidence. 

Use structured storytelling—whether convincing your leadership, inspiring customers, or closing a deal.

Win buy-in faster. 

Collect and refine personal stories you can repurpose for any audience into a story bank.

Build a flywheel

Recognize—and apply—the techniques world-class speakers use daily.

Sharpen your persuasion

Master practical storytelling frameworks to inspire confidence, influence decisions and become the communicator everyone listens to.

Fall 2025 Cohort 1

Sri Srikrishna

Entrepreneur, author, professor

Bikash Chowdhury

Entrepreneur, marketing leader

Summer 25 Cohort 1

Fall 2025 Cohort 2

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 input Your best insights will be overlooked: Because stakeholders can't see the connection to business outcomes You'll be seen as tactical, not strategic: Limited to executing ideas instead of shaping them Your 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." This course teaches you that essential skill. 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: 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 understanding You 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 Week 2: Turn Problems into Compelling Data Visualizations That Get Buy-InWeek 3: Validate Design Solutions from Multiple Stakeholder Perspectives Week 4: Present Your Work with Persuasive 5-Minute Executive Presentations 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

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

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

What you'll walk away with 

Have clear frameworks to immediately show your design impact in meetings, presentations, performance reviews, and interviews.

Data-Informed frameworks that make even skeptical stakeholders approve your designs

Stop talking in hypotheticals and opinions. Show experiments that prove your design value in business outcomes

ROI experiments that prove your design value in business outcomes, not opinions

Not sure how to talk about your design work in an effective way? You'll get templates that provide you with step-by-step instructions

Templates to turn any design project into a compelling business case study

Not sure what to say when talking with decision-makers or executives? You'll get scripts to help you in crucial situations

Scripts to present user research that gets immediate executive buy-in

You won't just learn theoretical concepts. You'll learn how to apply it to your work with 1:1 coaching with a Data-Informed Design expert.

60 minutes of 1:1 Data-Informed Design coaching

Master data storytelling: the skill that turns UX work into presentations executives understand, trust, and act on immediately.

September Cohort

Christopher Kai Wong

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

Private Cohort

October 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 in start-up and early stage companies who want to nail their story for team alignment and client pitches

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.

Lightning Lessons

Structure your design presentation for shared understanding