What is an executive summary?

When I wanted to create a better executive summary report, I started where many of us do—I asked Google. One of the first responses I received defined the concept clearly:

"An executive summary is a short document or section of a document produced for business purposes. It summarizes a longer report or proposal or a group of related reports in such a way that readers can rapidly become acquainted with a large body of material without having to read it all."

That simple definition made perfect sense.

Executive summaries aren’t meant to replace full reports. They’re meant to highlight the essentials—so that stakeholders, directors, or clients can understand the project status, risks, and key indicators in just a few minutes.

Inspired by that idea, I built this A3-sized executive summary report, tailored specifically for high-level meetings such as board reviews or steering committees. The goal was to keep it clear, clean, and focused on decision-making.

This layout does not overwhelm with details—it captures the big picture, organized in a way that naturally guides the reader through progress, timeline, budget, risks, and current priorities. The visuals are carefully chosen and minimal, ensuring that every chart adds value without clutter.

By sticking to the core principles of an executive summary—clarity, brevity, and impact—this report format makes a strong impression while respecting everyone’s time.

So yes, sometimes a quick search gives you the right direction. What matters next is how you apply it. And in this case, I turned a simple definition into a reporting tool that speaks volumes—without saying too much.