Elevator Pitch Competition

What can you tell a prospective employer about yourself – your education, your skills, your career goals – in the length of an elevator ride? The Mike Ilitch School of Business Elevator Pitch Competition is your chance to find out ... and possibly win your share of $1,750 in prizes! 

What is an elevator pitch?

An elevator pitch or elevator speech is a short (30-90 second) personal statement that summarizes who you are, what you know and what you want to do. The ideal elevator pitch will leave the person you are speaking with impressed and wanting to learn more about you. A well-crafted and delivered elevator pitch is a useful tool that you can use in any number of situations from chance meetings to career fairs to job interview introductions.

Past competitions

Fall 2017

On October 27, 2017, the Elevator Pitch Competition finals were held at the Guaridan Building with executive judges from Deloitte, Fiat Chrysler, Quicken Loans and the Ilitch School's Alumni Council.

Winners were: 

• First place, $1,000, Ashley McAdoo
• Second place, $500, Brandon Hejza
• Third place, $250, Kaila Hooks

Winter 2017

On March 3, 2017, the Elevator Pitch Competition finals were held at the Renaissance Center with executive judges from Quicken Loans, Ally Financial, Fiat Chrysler and Comerica Bank.

Winners were:

• First place, $1,000, Marseda Kavalli of Royal Oak
• Second place, $500, Robin Nickell of Portage
• Third place, $250, Danny Callahan of Chesterfield

Detroit TV stations WXYZ and WDIV covered the event.

2016 

Winners of the 2016 Elevator Pitch Competition were Andrew Barr (first place), Kaila Hooks (second place) and Mellanie Spidell (third place). Take a look:

WDIV Local 4

WXYZ Channel 7

Competition details

• The contest is open to all undergraduate students currently enrolled in the Mike Ilitch School of Business.

• Participants must attend a mandatory workshop and a semi-final round on campus to be eligible to compete in the finals. 

• The final competition will take place in a Detroit elevator with executives from top companies.

• First Prize: $1,000 | Second Prize: $500 | Third Prize: $250

This is a great opportunity to enhance your skills and present your personal elevator speech to actual Detroit executives.

Stage 1: Attend a mandatory workshop.

To compete in the fall 2017 Elevator Pitch Competition, you must first sign up for and attend a workshop.

To sign up:

• Go to https://wayne.joinhandshake.com/login  
• Sign in with your WSU AccessID email and password
• Select "Events" 
• Select the "Elevator Pitch Workshop" that you wish to attend
• Select "Join Event"

Stage 2: Pitch to faculty in the semi-final round.

Put on your suit and deliver your pitch to Ilitch School faculty members. You'll be scored; top performing students will advance to the finals. 

Stage 3: Vie for the prize!

If you make it to the finals, you'll be invited to the finals in Detroit. You'll ride an elevator with Detroit executives as you deliver your pitch in a real-life setting.

Questions?

Please contact the Mike Ilitch School of Business Career Planning & Placement Office or Undergraduate Student Services Office with any questions about the competition.

Helpful links

Main Components of an Elevator Speech
Muma College of Business, University of South Florida

The Perfect Elevator Pitch To Land A Job
Forbes

How to Prepare a Self-Introduction (Elevator Pitch)
Olin Business School, Washington University

Sponsors

​