Elevator Pitches: How to Introduce Yourself in 60 Seconds in English ‣ Profe Gau

Introduction: What is an Elevator Pitch?

One of my favorite speaking activities for professionals learning English is practicing elevator pitches. It’s a great way to build confidence, improve fluency, and prepare for real-world networking opportunities.

An elevator pitch is a quick, 30-to-60-second introduction where you explain who you are, what you do, and what makes you stand out. It’s the kind of thing you’d say if you met someone important in an elevator and only had a minute to make a good impression. It’s short, clear, and focused on sparking interest.

In this activity, you’ll practice writing and giving your own elevator pitch. The goal is to feel confident introducing yourself at a networking event or anytime you meet someone who could open the door to a new opportunity.

Step 1: Imagine your dream job

Take a moment to picture where you’d like to be in 10–15 years.

Do you see yourself working at a big company like Google? Or maybe a smaller, more specialized business? How would you introduce yourself to an executive at a networking event?
Or perhaps you imagine running your own business—what would it be? How would you present yourself to a potential client?

Take 3–5 minutes to jot down your thoughts. Think freely—this is just a brainstorming step.

Step 2: What is important in an elevator speech?

Watch 2–3 of the videos in the following playlist (link). While watching, take notes on the questions below.

What information is included (and what’s left out)
How the pitch is structured
Any useful words or phrases that stand out to you
What makes certain pitches engaging or memorable

Step 3: Now you try!

Using the ideas and phrases from the videos as inspiration, prepare your own 30-to-60-second elevator pitch. Focus on the following points:

Who you are professionally (e.g. “I’m an HR professional with a background in Psychology…”)
What you do and what sets you apart (skills, experiences, achievements)
What you’re looking for or how you can add value
A closing that invites connection (e.g. “I’d love to talk more about…”)

Step 4: Practice is key!

All set! Let’s listen to what you have to say!

Record your elevator pitch as an audio or video. You can use the recorder below, a camera or a WhatsApp voice message.
Focus on pronunciation, pacing, and confidence. Smiling can really help. 😁
Optional: Download the audio file and send it to your teacher or classmate for feedback.

Wrap-Up

Take a moment to reflect: How did you do? Did you find anything especially difficult?
Did you learn any new words or phrases along the way?
Feel free to share your elevator pitch or anything you learned through this activity in the comments below! 💕

Elevator Pitches: How to Introduce Yourself in 60 Seconds in English