On Cue with Kafui Dey: How to Make Any Topic Interesting (Even Quarterly Reports)

– If you can make financial data sound exciting, you can sell ice in the Sahara

Let’s be honest. Most quarterly reports are so dry, they could make the Sahara look like a swimming pool. The mere phrase “Q3 performance review” is enough to make even the most caffeinated professional glance longingly at the exit.

But what if I told you that even the dreaded quarterly report — that thick PDF filled with numbers, charts, and cautious optimism — can be made interesting? Yes, it’s possible. In fact, if you can make a financial presentation sound exciting, congratulations: you’ve unlocked the secret to making any topic come alive.

Here’s how to do it — without needing a degree in drama or a background in stand-up comedy.

1. Start with the “why” (before the “what”)

Most people open their presentations with a sentence that could put a toddler to sleep:
“Good morning. Today, I’ll be taking you through our Q2 revenue performance.”

No. Just no.

Before diving into the numbers, tell your audience why they should care. What’s at stake? What story do the numbers reveal? Did your team beat the odds like the Black Stars in penalty shootouts? Or did you learn something from a dip that will make the next quarter stronger?

Humans are wired for stories, not spreadsheets. The “why” gives context. The “what” makes sense only when people already care.

2. Translate data into drama

Behind every statistic is a story waiting to be told. Revenue didn’t just “grow by 8%.” That’s a victory story. Picture it: your team hustling like traders at Makola Market, your strategy catching fire faster than Lagos gossip.

Say it like this:
“Last quarter, we turned an 8% dip into an 8% rise — proving that with teamwork, even the spreadsheet can dance.”

Numbers alone don’t move people. But when you give them emotion and movement, you turn information into inspiration.

3. Use visuals that actually visualize

Too many professionals create slides that look like PowerPoint was invented to punish curiosity. A jungle of bar charts, pie charts, and bullet points so tiny they require prayer and a magnifying glass.

Instead, think like a storyteller. Use one powerful image per slide. Replace text with icons, charts with infographics, and confusion with clarity. A well-designed slide is not decoration — it’s translation.

If your slide needs an explanation longer than the slide itself, it’s not visual aid; it’s visual burden.

4. Inject personality (yes, even in finance)

Who says you can’t have a sense of humor in business? Imagine your CFO saying, “Our expenses went up, but don’t worry — we’re still far from needing a GoFundMe.”

A touch of wit or warmth doesn’t make you less professional; it makes you more human.

Great communicators bring themselves into their message. Whether you’re from Accra, Nairobi, or Kigali, your audience wants to hear you, not a corporate robot with a spreadsheet for a soul.

5. Build suspense like a storyteller

Think of your presentation as a good movie. You don’t give away the ending in the first five minutes. You build tension, tease results, and then deliver the reveal.

Instead of saying, “Revenue dropped this quarter,” try, “We faced our toughest test yet — and the results surprised even us.” Then pause. Watch as people lean in.

Even accountants deserve a little drama.

6. End with energy, not exhaustion

Too many presenters end like a car running out of fuel:
“Uh, that’s all for now. Any questions?”

Instead, land your message like a leader. Remind your audience what it all means — not just for the numbers, but for the mission.

Say:
“This quarter’s results remind us that growth isn’t just a number — it’s a habit. And we’re building that habit, one quarter at a time.”

That’s not a report. That’s a rallying cry.

The Bottom Line

Making any topic interesting — even a quarterly report — is not about gimmicks. It’s about empathy. It’s about remembering that your audience isn’t made up of machines that process data; they’re people who crave meaning.

So, next time you’re tasked with presenting something “boring,” remember: if you can make a roomful of executives care about depreciation rates, you can sell ice in the Sahara, airtime in the afterlife, and data bundles to someone with Wi-Fi.

In short — don’t just inform. Engage.

Because great communicators don’t just present the facts — they make the facts come alive.

>>> Need training? Email [email protected]

The post On Cue with Kafui Dey: How to Make Any Topic Interesting (Even Quarterly Reports) appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

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