2. Understanding the Big Picture
Activity: One-Minute Elevator Pitch
Establishing a culture of accessibility in an organization requires buy-in from senior management. These managers may not always understand the implications of accessibility barriers on the company. Using the knowledge you have gained to this point, write an elevator pitch to convince a senior manager that accessibility is important to the company.
If you are not familiar with elevator pitches, they often unfold when you, the speaker, getting on the elevator, happen to run into a key senior person in the company, who typically spends her day running from meeting to meeting. You have her as a captive audience for one minute while the elevator ascends. This is the only opportunity you will have to pitch your idea to this person, and if you succeed in convincing this person, she will support you in your effort.
Your task in this activity is to convince one of the following people that digital accessibility is very important and you have a good idea that is sure to benefit the company. You may want to consider different arguments to convince different people.
- President/Chief Executive Officer
- Director of Marketing
- IT Manager/Chief Information Officer
- General Manager
- Human Resource Director
For help with creating your elevator pitch, read Mindtools’s How to Create an Elevator Pitch.
Suggested Viewing: If you would like to see examples of an elevator pitch, have a look through the following video resources.
1. Video: 6 Elevator Pitches for the 21st Century
© THNKR. Released under the terms of a Standard YouTube License. All rights reserved.
2. Video: Elevator Pitch Winner (Utah State)
© UtahStateCES. Released under the terms of a Standard YouTube License. All rights reserved.
3. Video: Sarah Bourne Makes the Business Case for Implementing Accessible Technology
© PEATworks. Released under the terms of a Standard YouTube License. All rights reserved.
4. Video: Mike Paciello Makes the Business Case for Implementing Accessible Technology
© PEATworks. Released under the terms of a Standard YouTube License. All rights reserved.