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When I first started my program in Interactive Media at Centennial, people constantly asked me what I was actually learning to do and what kind of job would I have afterwards. At first I found it difficult to explain and struggled to come up with an elevator pitch that explained the industry and what I can do in a few words.  But since then, I have found a better way to make a first impression, whether I am out with friends, talking to other students or at a networking event.

If someone asks you, “What do you do?” this is perfect opportunity to make a connection and tell people about yourself and your company.  I’m not talking about selling a product or service – this is a chance to create a hook that is memorable and promotes your skills and the industry as a whole.

The elevator pitch is an icebreaker, a first conversation.  It usually lasts no more than 30 seconds, which is all it takes for someone to decide whether they like you or not and want to invest more time in you and what you have to say.

Here are 5 tips that I have picked up along the way:

1.     Create an emotional connection.  Make people care about what you are doing or have to share.

Get them excited about the potential of the industry and what it can do for them.  I usually tell a story or use humour to break the ice and build personal rapport.  Ask questions that show your interest in the human being and not just a potential client.

 2.     Make it easy to understand.   Interactive media sounds complicated and most people won’t invest in something they don’t understand or think is difficult.   The industry is changing so quickly that we can’t expect the average person to be following all the trends.  Give real examples of how UX and content strategy can help a company grow brand awareness and increase market share.

3.     Inspire a desire.  Don’t talk too much – remember that the elevator pitch is meant to catch someone’s attention and make them hungry for more.  Give a few details that show your knowledge without revealing all your secrets, so that you leave an impression that you have something that they want.  Ask leading questions that show you understand their needs.

4.     End with a call to action. Make sure you have a goal at the end of each pitch, whether it is to meet for a coffee, secure an internship or get a job.  Remember to be polite and direct without being pushy.  If their person is busy or uninterested, ask for a business card and follow up – congratulations, you have a new contact that you never know might turn into something more.

5.     Be yourself. At the end of the day, people like to spend time with people they like.  You don’t want to be stiff or fake when you give your pitch – in fact, embrace your quirkiness and be natural.  Show your passion and personality, because that will create a genuine connection (see tip #1. (Remember, as human beings we are all connected, we just don’t know it yet.  

Entrepreneurship in Nicaragua

Being an entrepreneur can be a scary task, especially when you don't have the right resources or guidance to start your business.  That's what many locals in Chinandega, Nicaragua face everyday.  Just like us, they dream of building a successful business, with unlimited revenue potential.  Unfortunately, for many it remains just that - a dream.  

Through Centennial College's Global Citizenship & Equity Learning Experience (GCELE) program and Waves of Hope - a not-for-profit organization dedicated to developing local communities within Nicaragua - I got a chance to work directly with local entrepreneurs and high school students to help turn their business dreams into reality.  For 2 weeks, the GCELE team (comprised of 12 students and 3 faculty) partnered with local translators and community members to build a marketplace to host 6 new businesses.  Needless to say, this experience is one I will never forget.

Here are 3 things I learned about entrepreneurship in Nicaragua:

Profits aren’t the only objective

Sure, we’d all like to make millions of dollars (who wouldn’t?), but it’s clear that most successful organizations have a deeper goal than just profits.  The same holds true for Nicaraguans.  When asked what success for their business looks like, one entrepreneur said, “being able to provide for the community”, while another said, “paving the way for our future children.”  These types of selfless responses spoke volumes about their beliefs and core values - caring, family-oriented and community-first.  After our first few days of assessment, our GCELE team quickly realized that a traditional North American business workshop approach was not the way to go.  We needed to learn about their culture and understand what drives them.  They wanted to make money, but they wanted to do it as a community in a sustainable manner.

Their natural ecosystem is their biggest asset

One of the biggest differences in cultural thinking between North America and Nicaragua is that, in North America, we would rather tear something down completely and rebuild it perfectly from scratch, than to work with what we already have.  In Nicaragua, they are the opposite.  They have adapted to their ecosystems so well that they don’t require much technology to complete day-to-day tasks - they simply use the natural resources available to them.  From laundry to health and fitness maintenance, Nicaraguans have developed a sustainable cycle that preserves the existing ecosystem, while accomplishing their goals.  Why tear down trees to build a barn when you can utilize them and save on resources/costs?  This was one of the biggest learning points I took away from their cultural thinking.

They have their own business culture

This was something we expected going in.  We knew that besides a language barrier, we would need to make adjustments to establish working business relationships with them.  One thing that stood out to me was the trust-building phase.  While the locals were friendly and welcomed us with open arms, there was some initial hesitation with trust, especially regarding confidential business information.  This was not surprising and we did everything we could to remind them we were here to help.  It took a few days of working together before most of the entrepreneurs felt completely comfortable with us.  To them, they needed time to get to know us and our intentions before they could trust us - friendship is part of their business relationship.