Renowned entrepreneur and White House honoree Felecia Hatcher has redefined the art of pitching to corporate giants like Visa, Louis Vuitton, and Google.
In a recent 90-second masterclass, Hatcher shared insights that challenge the traditional “elevator pitch,” emphasizing a strategic, question-driven approach to corporate partnerships.
According to Hatcher, effective pitching starts well before the pitch itself—with research, genuine connection, and asking the right questions.
For Hatcher, a key question that has driven her success is straightforward yet often overlooked: “What does success look like to you at the end of a partnership?”
This simple inquiry, she says, opens the door to honest dialogue, allowing brands to express their specific goals and helping her tailor her pitch to meet them.
“If a brand’s idea of success is reaching a hundred people, and I’ve come in assuming they want to reach a thousand, I can pivot my approach,” Hatcher explains.
This technique has helped her avoid misalignment and overpromising—two common pitfalls in high-stakes corporate pitching.
Hatcher also suggests breaking free from the rigidity of a standard elevator pitch. Instead, she advocates for taking control of the conversation by first understanding the brand’s needs and vision.
“It’s a conversation, not a monologue,” she notes.
By asking open-ended questions, Hatcher recommends building a relationship and focusing on how her offerings can directly solve the unique challenges facing each brand.
This relationship-centric approach is particularly powerful, Hatcher argues, because it transforms pitches from rehearsed scripts into authentic conversations.
As a motivational speaker and author, Hatcher’s insights have empowered countless startups to land meaningful partnerships, proving that successful pitching is about more than just a quick sales speech—it’s about empathy, precision, and creating lasting value.
For aspiring entrepreneurs and established business professionals alike, Hatcher’s approach offers a modern blueprint for connecting with corporate brands in a meaningful, impactful way.
With her guidance, brands looking to engage in partnerships can look forward to pitches that are refreshingly targeted, well-researched, and grounded in a true understanding of what success means for both sides.
