In a recent LinkedIn post, Ruben Hassid offers a practical guide for transforming dense Excel spreadsheets into visually appealing and easily digestible presentation slides, particularly for executive consumption. Hassid emphasizes that traditional, unformatted Excel documents are often overlooked, even by busy managers. He proposes a streamlined, AI-assisted method to create impactful presentations that capture attention and convey key information efficiently.
“Nobody reads your ugly Excel. Not even your boss.”
Hassid’s strategy hinges on a five-step process that leverages a popular AI tool, Gamma.app, to automate much of the design and data visualization work. The core idea, as Ruben Hassid outlines, is to move away from static, overwhelming data dumps towards concise, visually compelling narratives that can be easily shared and understood.
The Importance of Data Preparation
Before diving into AI tools, Hassid stresses the critical first step of cleaning the source Excel file. This involves meticulously removing any irrelevant tabs, empty sheets, hidden columns, or outdated drafts. According to Ruben Hassid, the quality of the output is directly dependent on the quality of the input:
“Garbage Excel in = garbage slides out.”
This initial cleanup ensures that only pertinent data is processed, leading to more focused and effective presentation slides. Hassid’s advice here highlights a fundamental principle in data communication: clarity begins with organization.
Leveraging AI for Slide Creation
The subsequent steps involve converting the cleaned Excel data into a format suitable for AI processing and then utilizing Gamma.app. Hassid details the process of saving the Excel file as a PDF, a universal format compatible with various spreadsheet software like Google Sheets and Notion. This PDF is then uploaded to Gamma.app’s AI import feature.
A key advantage Hassid points out is that Gamma doesn’t simply screenshot the data. Instead,
“It rebuilds your data as native charts you can edit.”
This capability allows users to retain flexibility and control over the presentation’s visual elements. Hassid also shares a crucial prompt instruction for the AI: “Lead with the conclusion. One key number per slide.” This directive ensures that the presentation prioritizes the main takeaway, a strategy often favored in executive settings.
Structuring for Impact and Brevity
Ruben Hassid then shifts focus to the narrative structure of the presentation. He advocates for a ‘conclusion-first’ approach, where the primary insight or outcome is presented on the very first slide, followed by supporting evidence on subsequent slides. Furthermore, Hassid advises rigorous culling of any slides that do not contribute significantly to the core message.
In Ruben Hassid’s view, the ideal presentation deck should be concise, ideally between five to eight slides.
“Longer than that = it’s a document, not a deck.”
This emphasis on brevity is crucial for capturing and retaining executive attention. Hassid concludes by reiterating that the ultimate goal is to create a ‘slide they can screenshot in a meeting’ – a testament to the desire for easily shareable and memorable content, a feat he argues Gamma helps achieve.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Ruben Hassid on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on June 15, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →