I am working on "a Pitch" to gain funding and backing for an internship program in South Africa for Wildlife Habitat Conservation. I'm currently working toward my Masters in Ecosystem Management and need the hands on experience. I am to work within this scenario: You enter the employee lounge and see an "influencer" (a senior executive) pouring a coffee. This is your chance to be an agent for yourself! You ask if she has a few minutes, and she says, "Sure!" You have three to four minutes to present your pitch promoting yourself or making a request that will forward your work or career agenda. This presentation should focus on your agenda. Concepts to employ: Perspective-taking: Frame your pitch in terms of what SHE may care about Your expertise: How can you appropriately show your talents, knowledge, experience, credentials, savvy Story-telling: Draw her interest by showing your passion Captivate: Use a startling statistic, intriguing fact, metaphor, or anecdote to gain - and keep - her attention Be succinct: Use a straightforward, tight process, as appropriatethe primary challenge/opportunity, the solution, and the bottom-line impact. Gain an ally: Earn her respect by asking for advice Openness to learning and flexibility: Use questions to explore her perspective (such as, "How do you see this opportunity differently?") and options to let her know you've looked at several alternatives, and you're thinking more strategically (such as "My first recommendation is this... yet there are also two other options that might work here...")