We've all been there—sitting through a presentation where someone rambles on about abstract concepts and theoretical benefits. Eyes glaze over. Attention wanders. TikTok calls for you.

Then everything changes when they say, "Let me show you a specific example of how this works." Suddenly, people are leaning forward. The abstract becomes concrete. The theoretical becomes practical.

In our three-act structure for executive briefings, we've covered Act 1: Why AI Matters. Now we're moving to Act 2: One Concrete Example With Real-World Impact. This is where you transform AI from a buzzword into something “real” that executives can grok.

Let’s get started

Choosing Your Perfect Example

Not all AI use cases are created equal—especially for demonstration purposes. The perfect example for an executive briefing needs to balance several factors:

1. High business impact - Addresses a significant pain point or opportunity

2. Low implementation risk - Can be executed reliably with minimal complexity

3. Clear before/after contrast - Shows a visible transformation

4. Measurable results - Demonstrates quantifiable benefits

5. Relatable to their business - Maps directly to their operations

Let’s cut through this and use a prompt to help identify some potential killer examples for your industry:

You are an AI consultant helping me identify the optimal use case for an executive briefing on AI implementation. For the following industry, please analyse potential AI applications according to business impact and implementation risk:

Industry: [Specify industry]
Company size: [SMB, Mid-market, Enterprise]
Available data: [Describe what data the company likely has]
Primary business objectives: [Cost reduction, revenue growth, customer experience, etc.]

For each category below, provide 2-3 specific AI applications with:
1. Brief description of the use case
2. Business impact (quantified if possible)
3. Implementation complexity/risk
4. Approximate timeline to implement
5. Data requirements

Categories:
- High Impact, Low Risk (primary focus)
- High Impact, High Risk (future consideration)
- Low Impact, Low Risk (quick wins)
- Low Impact, High Risk (avoid)

Recommend the single best use case for an executive demonstration, with justification.

This will take the factors above and details about the company you are talking to and spit out some potential examples. You’ll have to use your judgement and what you know about the company (and its executives specifically!) to select the best one - but this will at least get you pointed in the right direction.

Show, Don't Just Tell

Now, you could show them a before/after picture. Have some nice slides explaining what the use of AI would achieve. That’ll be sufficient most of the time.

I’m not going to waste your time explaining how to build those slides.

BUT….the most compelling example isn't just one you talk about—it's one you can actually demonstrate. Nothing convinces executives faster than seeing a working solution, even in prototype form.

Before your briefing, create a simple proof of concept that demonstrates the key capability:

• Use actual company data (with permission) or mock up data if this will be a problem

• Focus on the core function, not fancy interfaces

• Ensure it works flawlessly for your demo scenario (test test test!)

• Keep it lightweight and focused, zero bloat

Proof of concepts don't need to be full solutions—they just need to show the key capability in action. For example, if your use case is document analysis, build a simple app that can analyse a few sample documents from their company in real-time.

A (very) basic working automation or workflow will go much further than any abstract explanation you give. So I highly recommend bringing your A-game with a super simple prototype.

If you have no idea how to build something like this then my AI Automation Accelerator would be a good place to start.

Make It Interactive

If you really want to style it out then allow executives to interact with your proof of concept:

• Let them try different inputs

• Show how results change based on different scenarios

• Give them control of the demo where possible

This is obviously higher risk as there’s more chance of it not working. But if your prototype is slick enough that you know they won’t hit issues then this will elevate the demo.

Keep in mind that nothing kills credibility faster than a demo that fails. Always have fallbacks ready.

The "Scale Up" Conversation

The most effective examples don't stop at a single use case—they help executives see the broader potential. Once you've presented your specific example and they “get it”, help them understand how it scales:

Similar Processes Across the Organisation

Identify other areas where the same approach could apply: "The same approach we used for accounts payable could be applied to accounts receivable, HR onboarding documentation, and customer contracts—all of which involve similar document processing challenges."

Suddenly one solution for a team of 10 can be applied over all 1000 staff. This is about width - applying the same thing with more people.

Building Block Approach

Show how this initial application creates a foundation: "The document understanding capability we're developing here becomes a building block for more advanced applications, such as automated compliance checking and contract risk analysis."

Your demo is the basic core functionality. But help them imagine the “add ons” that could be integrated alongside. Let them pepper you with ideas - get that excitement up.

This is about depth. Increasing the sophistication of our AI tool so it performs even better.

This "scale up" conversation is crucial because it helps executives see beyond the immediate use case to the broader transformation potential. But always remember to ground this in practical reality—avoid painting science fiction scenarios.

Tailoring Your Example to Different Audiences

Before you go in make sure you know who you are talking to. Because we want to hit different outcomes for each executive depending on who they are. Different stakeholders will connect with different aspects of your example:

For Financial Executives (CFO, Controller)

• Emphasise cost savings and ROI

• Be precise about numbers and payback period

• Address audit and compliance considerations

For Operational Executives (COO, VP Operations)

• Focus on process improvements and efficiency

• Highlight error reduction and quality improvements

• Emphasise integration with existing workflows

For Technical Executives (CTO, CIO)

• Address system integration points, make sure they feel like part of the conversation

• Discuss data requirements and governance

• Outline implementation approach and resource needs

For Vision-Focused Executives (CEO, Board)

• Connect the example to strategic initiatives (Read their mission statements!)

• Show how it creates organisational capability

• Illustrate the broader transformation potential

When briefing multiple executives together, touch on elements that matter to each person in the room, while maintaining a coherent narrative. If in doubt aim for the CEO because ultimately they’ll have the final say.

What's Next?

In our final Part we'll cover Act 3 of the executive briefing: moving from interest to action.

We’ve got them excited. Now we need to round out with action.

You'll learn how to convert initial enthusiasm into committed next steps, whether you're an internal employee looking to lead AI initiatives or an external consultant seeking to secure client engagements.

Keep Prompting,

Kyle