Hybrid identity elevator pitch: In 10 seconds, stop sounding like a "master of none"

The hybrid professional identity pitch is a framework for a ten-second script. Use it whenever you like, especially when someone asks what you do. I’ve found if I hit three specific talking points in order, then I eliminate a lot of the murkiness and guesswork for my listener. This sets a good foundation for the rest of the conversation. There are three parts to the hybrid professional identity elevator pitch:

First, state your name, and say that you’re a hybrid professional. If you’ve developed a name for your hybrid professional identity, then share that too. It sounds like this,

“I’m Sarabeth Berk, and I’m a hybrid professional. I call myself a creative disruptor.”

This works for the opening line because you provide a new term, hybrid professional, which provokes curiosity and leaves the listener wanting more. If you add the name of your hybrid professional identity, that’s even better, because you give the listener a new soundbite they’ve never heard before. It makes them even more curious.

The name of a strong hybrid professional identity sounds a little abstract and a little familiar so the listener almost gets what you mean but not fully. You don’t want something that’s ordinary but also not too bizarre. You want to strike a balance.

Second, explain the primary professional identities that inform your hybridity. These are the identities you use on a daily basis, that bring you joy, and that you want to be known for.

It sounds like this, “I’m an artist, educator, researcher, and designer.”

The reason you list these after you introduce yourself as a hybrid professional, and potentially after the name of your hybrid professional identity, is that it helps move from an abstract title to something more concrete. You need to define what makes you a hybrid by listing the ingredients that make up your hybridity. These are the identities that will be familiar for your listener.

Third, explain what you mean. Now you need to explain how your professional identities fit together.

It sounds like this, “I creatively design systems to encourage people from different sectors to collaborate and build solutions.”

This last part is the most important. Saying you’re a hybrid professional and then listing your professional identities doesn’t demonstrate what makes you a hybrid. The relationship between your professional identities is what makes you unique, so you need to define your uniqueness.

The explanation of how your professional identities fit together and what you do with them is what sets you apart.

There’s also a fourth step, but it’s optional. If you have enough time or feel it would be beneficial, add a sentence about what purpose you’re trying to achieve and what audience you serve or support. This provides more insight around your goals or vision—it’s the why behind what you do.

When you string the three parts together, the full introduction sounds something like this:

“Hi, nice to meet you. I’m Sarabeth Berk, and I’m a hybrid professional. I call myself a creative disruptor. This means I combine my artist, educator, researcher, and designer identities to creatively design systems to encourage people from different sectors to collaborate and build solutions.”

Try this three- or four-part framework the next time you’re networking and trying to express the value of your hybrid professional identity.