How to: Create your elevator pitch

They say you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression, and we agree. Like it or not, the people around you are making judgements about your capability and value from the moment you say ‘hello’. Self-promotion is an art; the way you introduce yourself counts – yet very few of us put any thought into our professional elevator pitch.

People are busy; they want to understand who you are (and why they should care) in under 60 seconds. An elevator pitch captures what makes you uniquely you – and hints at what you can offer.  Think of it as a ‘short and sweet’ description of who you are, what you do, and what you’re working on.

Creating your own elevator pitch

Once you have your professional elevator pitch down, you can roll out a variation of it in any situation. Kristen is the PowrPitch^TM  master, so we’ve broken down her five components to provide a template for yours:

1. Intro: Hi, I’m [your name here].
2. One liner: I’m a [journalist, connector, problem solver, leader].
3. Superpower: I get out of bed to [grow startups, simplify complex challenges].
4. Evidence: Recently, I have [delivered an incredible project, solved a problem, or achieved a thing].
5. Ask (optional): Right now, I’m looking to [find a new job, launch a new business, learn a new skill, meet new people].

Put it together and keep it short, sweet and conversational. You have our permission to switch up words and make it your own, but keep from going over 60 seconds. Struggling? Nail your superpower by asking friends and colleagues what they rely on you for. Make sure you also keep a running list of 2-3 success stories you’re proud of, polish them all and switch up your evidence depending on the situation.

Practice makes perfect

You can (and should) be proud and excited; people are genuinely interested in hearing about the cool things you’ve done. And practice makes perfect, so test your pitch on friends, family, and the people with in an elevator. 😉 We learn by doing, and it’ll take a few tries to get it down. With that in mind, Kristen and Nat have volunteered to share theirs:

Hi, I’m Kristen, a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of Powrsuit. I’m passionate about inspiring others to break through barriers—real or perceived—to live their best lives. After succeeding with Hatch, I’m now channelling my energy into Powrsuit, a career accelerator for women at every level.

Hey, I’m Nat! I started first company at uni and have been going ever since. I get out of bed every day to solve complex problems. Before Powrsuit, I co-founded Hatch, changing the wealth stories of almost 200,000 investors. After the company was acquired, it was time for the next big challenge – closing the gender leadership gap with Powrsuit.