If you’ve ever sat in an executive review, you know how fast things can go off the rails. Too many slides, not enough focus, and everyone’s eyes glazing over by page four. If your team uses Valkre to manage customer insights or initiatives, you’ve probably noticed the default reporting templates aren’t exactly tailored for execs. The good news? You can customize them to actually help you get your point across—without making everyone wish for an early lunch.
This guide is for anyone who needs to shape up Valkre reports so they’re clear, simple, and genuinely useful in high-stakes meetings. No fluff—just what you need to know, step-by-step.
1. Get Clear on What Executives Want (and Don’t Want)
Before you mess with templates, get sharp about your audience. Executives want:
- The story, not the saga—big picture, key risks, next steps.
- Data that means something, not just data for data’s sake.
- Clean layouts—no walls of text or rainbow charts.
What they don’t want:
- Deep dives into every metric (unless they ask).
- Fluffy “insights” that restate the obvious.
- More than 10 slides—seriously, they’ll never read them all.
Pro tip: Ask a leader what they actually remember from the last report. That’s your North Star.
2. Find and Duplicate the Default Template
Here’s where most people get tripped up: they start hacking the main template. Don’t do that. Always duplicate the default, so you don’t break things for everyone else.
- Open Valkre and navigate to your reporting section.
- Find the template library. (It’s usually under "Reports" > "Templates" but this can vary by setup.)
- Locate the default template you want to use as a base.
- Use the “Duplicate” or “Copy” function—most installations have this, but if you don’t see it, you’ll have to open the template, save it under a new name, and start from there.
Why duplicate? If you mess up, you can always start over. And you keep the original intact for others.
3. Strip Out What You Don’t Need
This is where you fight bloat. Executive reports get cluttered because people are afraid to delete stuff. Be ruthless:
- Delete sections that don’t matter to your audience. (Quarterly ops details? Save them for the appendix.)
- Ditch visualizations that just look fancy but don’t add clarity.
- Remove jargon—execs see too much of it already.
What’s usually safe to cut: - Detailed methodology slides - Every single customer quote (pick 2-3 max) - Overly technical metric breakdowns
Don’t touch: Any legal or compliance disclaimers. (Ask your legal team if you’re unsure.)
4. Add What Matters—But Only What Matters
Now, add back only what will move the needle in the meeting.
Must-haves for exec reviews: - A strong executive summary (one slide, front and center) - Key results and their implications (“So what?”) - Action items and owners - One slide on risks or obstacles - One slide on asks or decisions needed from leadership
If you must include data: Keep it visual. One or two charts per point, max. No tiny fonts.
Pro tip: For every slide you add, ask “Would a busy exec actually care about this?” If not, cut it.
5. Clean Up the Layout and Formatting
Here’s where you make it readable. Valkre’s report builder is flexible, but it’s easy to go overboard.
- Use big, clear headings.
- Stick to one or two colors—no need to match the company palette exactly, just keep it legible.
- Make sure charts aren’t crowded. If you need to squint, so will your execs.
- Align everything—messy layouts look unprofessional, even if the content is great.
Don’t get sucked into: Spending hours tweaking fonts or adding logos everywhere. Focus on clarity, not “polish.”
6. Test Your Template Before the Real Meeting
Don’t wait until the execs are in the room to find out you’ve got broken links or missing charts.
- Run a test export or preview of the report.
- Ask a colleague (ideally not on your team) to review it in 5 minutes. If they can’t tell you the main story, it’s not ready.
- Double-check data sources—sometimes, dynamic fields in Valkre don’t populate if filters aren’t set up right.
Pro tip: Print your report to PDF as a “worst-case” test. If it’s still legible and clear, you’re on the right track.
7. Save and Share Your Custom Template
Once you’re happy with the template:
- Save it with a clear, descriptive name (e.g., “Q2 Executive Review – Customer Insights”).
- Set proper permissions. Only share edit access with people who’ll actually maintain it.
- Document any special instructions in the first slide’s notes or in a “read me” section.
Don’t: Spam every user with your new template. Share it with the right audience, and explain why it’s better than the default.
Honest Takes: What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Skip
Here’s the real talk:
What works: - Templates that are brutally simple. Execs read what’s easy to scan. - Visual data, not “data dumps.” - Clear asks—“We need a decision on X”—not vague updates.
What doesn’t: - Templates that try to please everyone. The more universal you go, the less useful it gets. - Overly automated “dynamic” sections that break during export. Test these hard before you trust them. - Hiding the bad news. Execs want the truth, not a sales pitch.
What to skip: - Loading up on branding. No one cares if your pie chart matches the logo. - “Nice to have” sections that don’t drive action (e.g., historical context slides unless someone asks). - Overly clever formatting—stick to basics.
Keep It Simple—And Keep Iterating
Customizing Valkre templates for executive reviews isn’t rocket science, but it does take discipline. Start simple, cut the fluff, and ask for feedback after every meeting. You’ll get better each time—and your execs might even start looking forward to your reports. (No promises, but you can hope.)
Remember: the best reporting template is the one that actually gets read. Don’t overthink it. Make it useful, and tweak as you go. Good luck.