Don't quit your job to change the world - be an intrapreneur | Kapil Kane | TEDxPuxi

Summary

The speech emphasizes the importance of intrapreneurship, where employees innovate within large organizations like entrepreneurs. Premier Li Keqiang's call for mass entrepreneurship and innovation inspires this concept. The speaker highlights notable intrapreneurs like creators of Post-it Notes, Macintosh, and PlayStation. The process involves ideation, incubation, business validation, and pitching. Through personal experiences at Apple and Intel, the speaker shows how innovation often evolves unexpectedly. Failure and a supportive culture are key to success. Intrapreneurship, they argue, is the future of work, crucial for companies to stay competitive in a rapidly changing world.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The concept of 'mass entrepreneurship and innovation' was introduced by Premier Li Keqiang to encourage Chinese citizens to be more entrepreneurial and innovative.
• 🚀 Entrepreneurs are individuals who act on their ideas, turning dreams into reality and impacting the world.
• 🏢 The term 'intrapreneur' refers to entrepreneurs within large organizations who drive innovation from within.
• 📈 Innovation is not just about creating; it's about making money and having a solid business case to support new ideas.
• 💡 The process of innovation within a corporate environment involves four key steps: ideation, incubation, business validation, and pitching.
• 📱 Examples of successful intrapreneurship include the creation of Post-it Notes at 3M, the Macintosh at Apple, and the PlayStation at Sony.
• 🔍 Ideation within a corporation must align with the company's strategy and goals, and ideas should be achievable within a reasonable timeframe.
• 🛠 Incubation is about turning ideas into tangible products or demos to increase the likelihood of gaining support.
• 📈 Business validation is crucial to ensure that innovations are not just novelties but have the potential to generate revenue.
• 🗣 Pitching is a skill that can be taught and learned, essential for gaining investment and support for intrapreneurial ideas.
• 📉 Companies that do not foster a culture of intrapreneurship risk losing talent, ideas, and business opportunities, as well as facing potential bankruptcy.

Q & A

What is the meaning of 'mass entrepreneurship and innovation' mentioned in the script?

'Mass entrepreneurship and innovation' refers to the idea of encouraging all citizens, not just business owners or entrepreneurs, to come up with new ideas and turn them into action. It's about fostering a culture where everyone is motivated to innovate and create.

What is an intrapreneur, according to the script?

An intrapreneur is an employee within a large organization who acts like an entrepreneur. They develop new ideas, innovate, and create projects within the company, similar to how a startup founder would do outside the organization.

What are some examples of famous intrapreneurs mentioned in the script?

The script mentions several famous intrapreneurs, such as Art Fry, who created Post-it Notes at 3M, Jeff Raskin, who developed the Macintosh at Apple, and Ken Kutaragi, who brought the PlayStation to life at Sony.

What are the four steps to becoming an intrapreneur outlined in the script?

The four steps to becoming an intrapreneur are: 1) Ideation - generating relevant ideas that align with the organization's goals, 2) Incubation - turning the idea into a tangible concept, 3) Business validation - ensuring the idea has a sound business case, and 4) Pitching - presenting the idea to the right stakeholders.

What challenges do intrapreneurs face in a corporate environment, according to the script?

Intrapreneurs face challenges such as resistance to change, limited resources, the need to align their ideas with the organization's goals, and difficulties in convincing management to support and invest in their projects.

How did the speaker’s experience with Apple influence his view on intrapreneurship?

The speaker's experience at Apple, where he worked on a touch technology project that eventually led to the development of the iPhone, showed him the importance of perseverance, adapting ideas, and taking risks in a corporate environment. This experience reinforced his belief in the power of intrapreneurship.

What lesson does the Kodak story illustrate in the context of intrapreneurship?

The Kodak story illustrates the risk of ignoring innovation. Kodak had the opportunity to lead the digital camera revolution but chose to focus on their traditional business, which eventually led to their downfall. This highlights the importance of fostering a culture that embraces new ideas within organizations.

According to the script, what could happen to companies that do not embrace intrapreneurship?

Companies that do not embrace intrapreneurship risk losing talented employees, missing out on business opportunities, and ultimately facing disruption by more agile startups, which could lead to their decline or even bankruptcy.

Why does the speaker believe that intrapreneurship is the future of work?

The speaker believes that intrapreneurship is the future of work because it allows companies to innovate and keep up with the rapid pace of change in the market. Intrapreneurs help organizations stay competitive by driving innovation from within.

What role does company culture play in supporting intrapreneurship, as discussed in the script?

Company culture plays a crucial role in supporting intrapreneurship by encouraging risk-taking and creating an environment where employees feel safe to innovate and make mistakes. A positive culture helps foster creativity and the development of groundbreaking ideas.