Examples of Elevator Pitches for Social Science/MBA Students

The ‘why’ or motivation for the program you choose and how you will impact the world can be
the hardest, especially if you haven’t been asked to explain it in under 5 minutes! So here are
helpful words to use when framing (or explaining) your motivations:

Gain exposure or credibility in the industry

Hoping to find a role in…
Suggestions as to how I can…
Opportunities for me to develop…
Looking to write for…
Insight on how I can apply…

As for impact, think about these questions:

Who do I want to help or inspire?

Who benefits from my work?
Why do I enjoy the work I am doing?

Since Fulbright is both a personal and professional life change (you may be living in the
US for two years!) it is ok to use words like:

Because…
On behalf of…
I owe it to…
I’m inspired by…
I want to inspire..
I believe…

Here are some examples for what someone in the social sciences/MBA fields may say about
what they do now, what they want to do, and how that will impact their community or business:

If you are currently studying:

Hello, I am [insert your name here] and I’m currently studying [insert subject here] at [insert
college name here]. One of my greatest strengths is my ability to [what academic and
practical skills are you good at? Insert here] and I’m interested in [what position or
program?Insert name or position here] at [where? Insert university name, nonprofit
name, or business here] that allows me to [what do you want to do? Insert here]. Because
[how did you find the program/field? Insert here] were a key part of my development, it’s
important for me to pay it forward and [what will be your impact? Insert here].

Example of the above summary filled in:

I’m currently studying education at [insert college]. One of my greatest strengths is my ability to
make the conceptual practical and I’m interested in securing an entry-level role at a nonprofit
that allows me to teach and develop curriculum. Because nonprofit programs and fellowships
were a key part of my development, it’s important for me to pay it forward and help student
develop to their highest potential.
Example if you are working at a business or NGO (non-government organization):

I’m currently working as Human Resources Manager at [insert company]. My supervisors

frequently commend me for being able to weigh and consider multiple perspectives and
negotiate conflicting perspectives. I’m looking for suggestions/advice on how I can further
cultivate my expertise in this field because because my ultimate aim is to help organizations
develop more ethical and inclusive workplace cultures.

Example for marketing or communications:

I’m a communications professional with a knack for persuasive storytelling. Considering my

colleagues often complemented me for my thoughtful and engaging presentations, I’m looking
for insight as to how I can best position myself for a role in production or videography at social
impact start-up. Because I’m inspired by documentaries, I want to help companies express their
missions in compelling and relatable ways in the age of social media.

For social science:

My core skill sets are civil engineering and psychology. I’m endlessly curious and all my friends,
family, and colleagues look to me for answers on everything from mood swings to mindcraft. As
I’ve always been exceptionally passionate about social issues, I’m looking to write for
publications/websites focused on climate change so that I can create content and campaigns
urging others to take action and increase sustainability future generations.

Source: http://idealistcareers.org/a-quick-guide-to-writing-your-elevator-pitch-with-examples/
“A quick guide to writing your elevator pitch (with examples!)” By Lawrese Brown

For a Marketing Researcher (could be applied to anyone conducting research):

It’s probably easiest if I give you an example of my work. I was working with one of the big four
consulting companies which was curious about how senior managers view risk management.
My job was to recruit 75 C-Level executives from Fortune 1000 companies to speak with us
about how they view risk management today, what they see as the emerging risks, and which
services would be most valuable now and in the future. We successfully found and interviewed
75 executives despite a very tight timeline. My name is ___________ and businesses come to
_____________ to better understand their markets, customers, and competitors.

Source: http://improvandy.com/elevator-pitch/examples-of-a-30-second-elevator-pitch/
#researcher

*Please do not plagiarize! Fulbright Paraguay knows you have these examples, they are
to be used as a reference, not copied! Your pitch should be practiced with talking points,
not a fully written, memorized speech.

Buena suerte, Kate Witt. We can practice your pitch on Skype, my ID: witt.kate (Paraguay)