How to Craft the Perfect Elevator Pitch�����������������������

LEAH TSUI

MS, RDN

INCOMING DIRECTOR OF SPONSORSHIP

As a Nutrition Entrepreneur, you are likely used to telling people what you do, and how it may be different from other dietitians� Having the perfect elevator pitch ready to give at any moment is helpful because you never know when you’re going to need it� Being able to talk about what you do with an effective and captivating story is how you make a great impression on the person you’re speaking with� Whether you’re pitching yourself at a networking mixer, interviewing for a job, or talking about your nutrition services in a discovery call, an elevator pitch will come in handy!

WHAT IS AN ELEVATOR PITCH?

An elevator pitch is a 30-second spiel where you introduce yourself and what services you provide that can help the person you are speaking to� You want to use relatable terms that any layperson can understand to keep what you do as the focus, and avoid getting bogged down with technical vernacular�

WHY SHOULD I HAVE AN ELEVATOR PITCH?

There are many occasions where an elevator pitch will be helpful:

y At a networking mixer when everyone is meeting new people, you want to have a unique elevator pitch that makes you stand out� y In an interview, describe who you are, what you do, and why they should hire you� y In a discovery call with a potential client, describe what you do, your nutrition philosophy, and how you work together with clients to support them in their health journey� y On your website, using a version of your elevator pitch on the homepage of your website gives audience members a quick and concise way of getting to know you and what you offer�

HOW DO I CREATE AN ELEVATOR PITCH?

Keep it short! Thirty seconds or less is ideal�

Be general – if someone relates to what you do, you can always dive in deeper later with the conversation�

Remember – you are the only you there is! Brainstorm what makes you unique and sets you apart from other nutrition entrepreneurs and express that in your elevator pitch�

y Outline: ➤ Introduce yourself and describe what you do in a clear and concise way� ➤ Share an example that shows how you can help the person whom you are talking to� This specific example may change depending on whom you speak with, so know your audience and be prepared to change this accordingly� You don’t want to show how you can solve just any problem; you want to prove how you can solve that person’s problem�

➤ End with a “call to action” * At a networking mixer, hand a person your business card and ask for the other person’s as well� * In an interview, express your enthusiasm for the role� * In a discovery call, sign the person up for an initial consultation� * On your website, have the person sign up for your newsletter or download your offer� Lastly, practice makes perfect! While you don’t want it to sound rehearsed as if you’ve memorized a script, you do want to confidently deliver an elevator pitch about who you are�

Now you know the steps to creating the perfect elevator pitch, so here is one final tip: follow up! You’ve made a positive impression on the person you’re speaking to, and it’s your responsibility to follow through on your elevator pitch� You can do NE-thing, and it’s time people know you are the person for it�

Leah Tsui, MS, RDN, is the owner of Leah Tsui Nutrition LLC, integrating sports nutrition with intuitive eating for her clients� Leah has become quite the plant mom during quarantine� She bakes sourdough bread weekly and loves exploring Los Angeles� In her time off from being an RDN, you can find her coaching functional fitness at her favorite gym, reading a book (or two!) for the several book clubs she's in, or running along the beach�