Crafting a Strong MBA Elevator Pitch

With COVID-19 forcing MBA admissions interviews online, the elevator pitch is more important than ever.

Sharon Joyce, of Fortuna Admissions, recently offered a few tips on how MBA applicants can make a powerful elevator pitch.

HIGHLIGHT YOUR GOALS

Joyce recommends that applicants cater their personal pitch to their context. In other words, it’s important to clarify your goals when creating your MBA elevator pitch.

“As you go into a conversation, clarify what you hope to get out of it,” Joyce writes. “What is your goal? What are you hoping to learn or accomplish? When it’s over, what do you want to take away (and leave behind)? Perhaps it’s first-hand insight on a certain academic offering or new contacts from alumni. Think consistent and customizable, not canned.”

KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

Effective messaging and communications are catered and customized to a specific audience. The same goes for your elevator pitch.

“It’s important to understand the key attributes top business school are looking for – leadership, the ability to work on teams, analytical thinking, emotional intelligence, respect for diverse perspectives,” Joyce writes. “A deeper awareness of what your target schools care about will also help you make important connections to your personal strengths, passions and unique story.”

BE CONCISE YET CONVERSATIONAL

Being concise in what you convey is important, but Joyce reminds applicants to also be conversational in their tone and not overly rehearsed.

“This means being able to adapt it to the situation, customizing it to be relevant to the context and whom you’re speaking,” Joyce writes. “Don’t be afraid to sprinkle in an interesting anecdote or thoughtful insight that could serve as a conversational segue.”