They say an entrepreneur builds his own business. That’s true most of the time, but it misses a key phenomenon.
It’s about entrepreneurship inside corporations. Nobody talks about it, except in PowerPoint slogans about innovation. Few corporations ever pull it off.
The reason’s simple—the bigger the corporation, the more it clings to preserving and multiplying what’s already there. A profitable business model feels like a given to hired managers. Nobody recalls who found it or how.
All’s fine until the world shifts. Soon, not just the CEO or board, but every top manager sees it: “The company needs a reboot, or else…”
But managerial understanding isn’t enough for transformation. You need entrepreneurial spark. And that’s usually long gone. The founder’s stepped back. The culture rewards implementers.
Such a corporation is doomed to watch its sunset. Unless a hungry Private Equity fund swoops in. Those guys know how to inject entrepreneurial fire—they need to flip the asset in 5-7 years, no matter what.
Luckily, some companies value what could be as much as what is. They milk their proven model but hunt new possibilities. Stability matters to them, but so does growth.
In these places, a different culture thrives. They carve out space for Wow-projects, built from scratch. Entrepreneurs inside get power and resources.
An intrapreneur lives in two worlds. He can spin one from zero, a magic trick. And he knows exactly how to turn one into millions.
Not every company values such people. Not every founder craves the corporate game. But when the right encounter happens, they have the chance to create immense value.
Best of luck to my client, Alex Chapko, as he navigates his intrapreneurial path!
Sincerely yours,
-Alexander
About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.
How can I help you?
If you've long been trying to understand what is limiting you and/or your business and how to finally give important changes a push, then The Catalyst Session is designed specifically for you. Book it here.