How to Present UX Research Findings to Executive Stakeholders

By Philip Burgess | UX Research Leader

Presenting UX research findings to executive stakeholders can be challenging. Executives often have limited time and focus on high-level outcomes rather than detailed data. To make your research impactful, you need to communicate clearly, highlight key insights, and connect your findings to business goals. This post explains how to present UX research results effectively to executives, ensuring your work influences decisions and drives product improvements.

Clear UX research summary on tablet

Understand Your Audience and Their Priorities

Executives care about how UX research affects the business. Before your presentation, learn what matters most to them. Are they focused on increasing customer retention, reducing support costs, or speeding up product launches? Tailor your message to these priorities.

Use simple language and avoid jargon. Executives may not be familiar with UX terms or methods, so explain concepts briefly and clearly. For example, instead of saying “heuristic evaluation,” say “expert review to find usability issues.”

Focus on Key Insights and Business Impact When Presenting UX Research Findings

Executives want to know what the research means for the company. Highlight the most important findings that relate to business goals. Use these strategies:

• Present top 3 to 5 insights that have clear implications.

• Show how these insights affect user satisfaction, conversion rates, or other metrics.

• Use concrete examples or quotes from users to make findings relatable.

• Avoid overwhelming them with raw data or lengthy reports.

  
  

For example, if research shows users struggle with the checkout process, explain how this causes cart abandonment and lost revenue. Suggest improvements based on your findings.

Use Visuals to Make Data Easy to Understand

Visual aids help executives grasp complex information quickly. Use charts, graphs, and diagrams that highlight trends and comparisons. Keep visuals simple and focused on one message each.

Consider these tips:

• Use bar charts or pie charts for quantitative data.

• Include screenshots or annotated images to illustrate usability problems.

• Use color coding to emphasize positive or negative trends.

• Avoid cluttered slides or tables with too many numbers.

  
  

Visuals should support your story, not distract from it.

Tell a Story That Connects Research to Action

Structure your presentation like a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end:

1. Set the context: Briefly explain the research goals and methods.

2. Present findings: Share key insights with supporting visuals.

3. Explain impact: Connect findings to business outcomes.

4. Recommend next steps: Suggest specific actions or experiments.

   
   

This narrative helps executives follow your logic and see the value of UX research.

Keep Presentations Short and Interactive

Executives have limited time. Aim for 15 to 20 minutes, focusing on the essentials. Leave time for questions and discussion.

Encourage interaction by asking for their input or concerns. This shows respect for their perspective and helps align UX work with business needs.

Provide a Clear Summary and Follow-Up Materials

End your presentation with a concise summary slide that recaps the main points and recommended actions. This reinforces your message.

After the meeting, share a brief report or one-pager with key findings and next steps. This allows executives to revisit the information and share it with others.

Printed UX research summary report with charts

Example: Presenting Usability Testing Results

Imagine you conducted usability testing on a mobile app. Your key findings include:

• Users struggled to find the search bar, causing frustration.

• The onboarding process took too long, leading to drop-offs.

• Users liked the personalized recommendations feature.

  
  

To present this to executives:

• Start by stating the goal: improve user engagement.

• Show a chart of task success rates before and after redesign.

• Share a user quote about difficulty finding the search bar.

• Explain how simplifying onboarding could increase retention by 10%.

• Recommend redesigning the search bar placement and shortening onboarding.

  
  

This approach links research to clear business benefits.

Final Thoughts

Presenting UX research findings to executive stakeholders requires clarity, focus, and relevance. By understanding their priorities, highlighting key insights, using visuals, and telling a compelling story, you can make your research influence decisions. Keep presentations concise and interactive, and provide follow-up materials for ongoing impact.