Bank of America Scholarship: Women’s Entrepreneurship Program by eCornell
by Itır Beğen
From September 2024 to January 2025, I attended the Women’s Entrepreneurship Program by eCornell through a fully funded Bank of America Scholarship. This program sharpened my leadership, innovation, and strategic thinking skills, with a special focus on empowering women to creatively tackle challenges in the workplace and beyond.
One of the projects I implemented during this program was an activity designed to blend entrepreneurial thinking with public speaking: "Pitching to Elon Musk." The goal was to create a fun, dynamic way for students to practice English while learning essential skills in structuring and delivering persuasive business pitches. Here’s how we approached it step by step:
Step 1: Setting the Scene
Students were given the premise: Imagine being in an elevator with Elon Musk for just two minutes. How would you convince him to invest in your innovative idea? This challenge helped set the stage for focused, impactful pitches.
Step 2: Brainstorming Solutions
In teams, students brainstormed everyday problems they were passionate about solving. The ideas ranged from creating eco-friendly reusable notebooks to designing apps for time management and even tools to support remote learning for kids.
Step 3: Structuring the Pitch
We broke down the elements of a great pitch into clear sections:
Attention-Grabbing Opener: A hook to immediately capture interest.
Problem Statement: Define the issue in a relatable way.
Proposed Solution: Highlight the unique and innovative approach.
Value Proposition: Explain why this matters and how it makes a difference.
Call to Action: End with a compelling reason to invest or explore further.
Step 4: Practicing Delivery
Students rehearsed their pitches, focusing on speaking clearly, maintaining eye contact, and conveying enthusiasm. Peer feedback sessions ensured every participant refined their delivery.
Step 5: Presenting to “Elon Musk”
Each team presented their pitch in a simulated “elevator ride,” where other students played the role of Elon Musk.
This exercise was a powerful way to integrate entrepreneurial skills with language learning. It encouraged students to think critically, communicate effectively, and embrace their creativity—all while gaining confidence in their ability to share ideas in English.