Tag: pitch

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U of T marks International Women’s Day with lectures, a pitch competition and other events

U of T marks International Women's Day with lectures, a pitch competition and other events

The University of Toronto community is marking International Women’s Day on March 8 with a variety of events across the three campuses.

From lectures and workshops to a startup pitch competition and a fun trivia night, the events will highlight the cultural, political and socioeconomic achievements of women across the world.

Here’s a snapshot of what’s scheduled across the three U of T campuses this week:

Women in Hip-Hop: Erasure, Trailblazers and Place-makers

Co-hosted by Hart House and Fresh, Bold and So Def at the Universal Hip Hop Museum, this virtual event will showcase the historical and continuing contributions of women in hip-hop. The conversation will be led by moderator Francesca D’Amico-Cuthbert, a post-doctoral researcher at U of T’s Jackman Humanities Institute. She’ll be joined by Martha Diaz, curator, archivist, educator, media producer and social entrepreneur; DJ Lynnée Denise, artist, scholar and writer; and Kayja Edwards, a student at U of T Mississauga who is studying a double major in communications, culture, information and technology and women and gender studies. March 8, 4 – 5:30 p.m. ET 

 

Part of U of T’s Entrepreneurship Week, ICUBE – home of early-stage start-ups at U of T Mississauga – is hosting Pitch with a Twist, International Women’s Month Edition. The event provides an opportunity for women-identifying entrepreneurs to pitch early-stage ventures to a panel of women-identifying judges from a variety of sectors for cash prizes and support. March 8, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. ET

 

Faith on the Margins – International Women’s Day Event 

The Multi-Faith Centre at U of T is hosting a virtual conversation to explore how gender rights, justice and spirituality are connected. The participants include Maryam Khan, social work professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, Rev. Cheri DiNovo, minister and former MPP, and Rabbi Ariella Rosen, senior director and senior Jewish educator at Hillel U of T. March 8, 5:30 – 8 p.m. ET

 

International Women’s Day – Crowns of Change Head Wrap Workshop

Hosted at the Meeting Place at U of T Scarborough, the Crowns of Change is a workshop for women to learn how to protect their hair with a head wrap or head covering. Participants will get to leave with their own crown. March 8, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET

 

International Women’s Day Lecture with Tara Houska

The Women & Gender Studies Institute is hosting a virtual lecture – Defend the Sacred: Reconnection is Resistance – with tribal attorney, land defender and climate justice activist Tara Houska. She co-founded Not Your Mascots, an organization committed to educating the public about representation of Indigenous Peoples. March 9, 6 – 7:30 p.m. ET

 

International Women’s Day Trivia Night

Students, staff and faculty are invited to take part in a fun trivia night focused on women who are trailblazers in their respective fields. Hosted by the International Student Centre, there are prizes available. March 11, 5 – 6 p.m. ET

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I’m an entrepreneur who’s landed speaking gigs at events like SXSW. Here’s the exact email I use to pitch myself.

I'm an entrepreneur who's landed speaking gigs at events like SXSW. Here's the exact email I use to pitch myself.
  • Jen Glantz is an entrepreneur and the founder of Bridesmaid for Hire.
  • She’s landed multiple speaking gigs by sending a specific email pitch to event organizers.
  • The email should be brief but detailed — explain your interest and share your expertise, she says.

As a solopreneur, one of the ways I’ve been able to expand my network and build up my credibility has been through speaking at events and conferences and teaching workshops at companies. This has allowed me to share my expertise in a memorable way and establish myself as a thought leader within my industry.

Jen Glantz.JPG

Six years ago, Jen Glantz took the idea of being a bridesmaid for strangers and made it a reality.

Jen Glantz


People often ask me how I was able to speak at events like the SXSW conference, at General Assembly, and at a recent virtual conference for GoDaddy. I don’t have a speaking agent and I don’t get opportunities in my inbox, but my strategy is simple: I spend an hour a month researching conferences and events that are happening later that year. Then, I send the organizers a standard pitch email.

Here’s the exact script I use when I pitch myself as a speaker for different events.

A quick introduction

When people open up an email, you only have a few seconds to impress them and convince them to keep reading the entire message. That’s why I like to start my speaker pitch emails off with a short introduction, summary, and memorable detail. 

Hi [name],

I’m [name]. It’s really wonderful to e-meet you. I’m here in your inbox because I’d love to be a speaker at [name of event] to share actionable, engaging, and unforgettable tips on [topic] with the audience. Why me? I’m [add a few lines about your credibility and what makes you unique]. Plus, [add your fun fact here or a memorial detail that makes you stand out].

A deep dive into relevant experience

Consider your speaker pitch email as not only a first impression, but as a chance to recap your credibility, speaking history, and relevant experience. Your goal is to get the person reading the email to hit reply and get to know you even better. Share three to four sentences that explain more about who you are.

For the past [number of years], I’ve worked in [share details on your industry or career path]. Through that work, [share expertise, key findings, niche topics you’ve studied, projects you’ve started, or accomplishments]. I’ve spoken to audiences that include [list speaking engagements you’ve had in the past].  

A breakdown of speaking topics 

Depending on how much you know about the event, you can pitch a few speaking topics that you think would interest the organizers. If you’re not sure what they’re looking for, share three to four topics that you’ve spoken about in the past and details on each.

I’ve spent time diving into the content of this event and feel my expertise could benefit the audience on the following topics:

  • Public speaking for introverted entrepreneurs approaching sales calls 
  • Personal branding for entrepreneurs without a huge social media following 
  • Social media tips to strategize and engage a growing audience 
  • How to handle investor rejection and turn the no’s into success 

A list of reasons why the audience would benefit 

Besides introducing who you are and what you bring to the table, it’s also important to outline what you’ll share with the audience that will make them feel like they got the most out of the event. To do this, I share a brief list of takeaways that an audience will have after they listen to me speak through direct feedback I’ve had from past speaking engagements.

By the end of my session, audience members will walk away saying:

  • “I now know how to [fill in the blank] better than before”
  • “I received clarity from an expert on [topic]”
  • “I’m feeling excited about what’s next when it comes to [topic]”
  • “This workshop on [topic] was the best one I went to at [event]”
  • “The advice [speaker’s name] shared was unique, practical, and super relevant”

A strong closing

I wrap up my pitch emails with a simple, enthusiastic summary explaining why I want to speak at that specific event and offering to share more information. 

Speaking at [name of the event] is an opportunity I’m truly passionate and excited about, especially because [give a compelling reason]. I’d love to share more information and hear about ways I can design a [workshop, speech, keynote, session] that’s perfect for the audience.

Thank you for your consideration.

All the best,

[Name] 

Pitching yourself as a speaker at an event can feel intimidating. If you approach your initial email with catchy details, credibility, and proof that you’d connect with the event’s audience, you’re more likely to get a response and perhaps even find yourself on their stage.