We've touched on the elevator speech before, recently I think. As time passes I am leaning in the direction of the elevator invitation rather than the speech. By that I mean a very short statement that itself invites a response.
For example, in response to what do you do, I might say, "I work with folks to make the complex understandable. Does that strike a chord with you? [or] Are you in such a situation?"
I think a conversation that engages the other person will make more headway than a speech or monologue (I don't mean that critically, just as an observation)