Elevator Pitch Competition sends Wayne State business students straight to the top

While many of their classmates are tailgating for the Detroit Tigers’ home opener on Friday, April 8, a select group of Wayne State University business students will board a shuttle downtown — but they won’t be wearing baseball caps. Instead, they’ll be dressed to impress as they vie for $1,750 in scholarship money in the first-ever Mike Ilitch School of Business Elevator Pitch Competition, practicing their opening lines on Detroit executives in the Renaissance Center elevators.

The students have 90 seconds — the time it takes to reach the Coach Insignia from the ground floor — to give an “elevator speech” about themselves, describing their education, skills and career aspirations. Executives from Quicken Loans, PwC, Blue Cross Blue Shield, GM and Ford will evaluate the students on their ability to sell themselves and present a positive, professional first impression. 

Beginning at 10 a.m., each student will ride the elevator up with one executive, then down with another. The top five students after the elevator rounds will pitch all judges in a boardroom setting. Three winners will receive scholarships of $1,000, $500 or $250.

The Elevator Pitch Competition is sponsored by the Mike Ilitch School of Business Alumni Association and Coach Insignia.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Steve Townsend
Director and Marketing & Communications
Mike Ilitch School of Business
313-577-0202
smtownsend@wayne.edu

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