Part 2: What It Really Means to Think Like an Entrepreneur Inside a Company

Last week, I wrote about how leaders can say no without killing innovation. But there's another side to this: the people bringing the ideas forward.

And here's the truth: if leaders need to learn how to say no constructively, intrapreneurs need to learn how to build ideas that can survive contact with reality.

Inside large organizations, we often hear, "Be entrepreneurial. Take initiative. Think big."

But what does that actually mean?

To me, it means learning to think not just with passion, but with responsibility.

Testing Assumptions, Not Selling Them

One of the patterns I see often is this: people push ideas through the system by wrapping them in the language that gets approval.

"The customer needs this."

"We're losing market share."

"We need to move fast."

But when you dig deeper, there isn't always a real business case. Or there is, but it's buried beneath vague assumptions and hopeful thinking. And then the organization spends time, energy, and money on something that doesn't hold up.

Real intrapreneurship isn't about getting an idea accepted. It's about proving the value of that idea through testing, iteration, and business logic.

It means:

• Running the numbers, even if they're rough

• Talking to real customers, not just assuming what they need

• Understanding the cost to implement, not just the desire to act

• Seeing risk clearly, and finding ways to reduce it without losing momentum

In my research, I found that the most successful intrapreneurs don't just pitch ideas. They build them in a way that makes adoption almost inevitable.

They:

1. Start with clarity: They can articulate the problem, who it affects, and what success looks like

2. Create safety around learning: They surface risks early and document what they learn when something doesn't work

3. Build toward structure: They identify who will scale it, how it will integrate, and what resources it needs to move beyond pilot

   
   

When the Idea Is Right but the System Isn't Ready

And most importantly, it means being open to learning.

Sometimes your idea is right, but the timing is off. Or the market isn't ready. Or the internal capacity isn't there yet.

That doesn't mean the idea is dead. But it means you need to refine it. Iterate it. Explore what would need to be true to make it a yes.

When I was building innovation hubs across Europe, we had to navigate constant tension between local needs and global solutions. Sometimes the answer was, "This makes sense, but we need to align it with what's already in motion." That's frustrating, but it's also reality.

The best intrapreneurs I worked with didn't give up. They reframed. They found allies. They ran small tests to build evidence. And when they couldn't move something forward, they documented it so the next person could pick it up when conditions changed.

Sometimes, there is a real business case. The value is clear. The opportunity is strong. But it still doesn't move forward because of legacy decisions, outdated processes, or internal resistance to change.

In these moments, corporate entrepreneurs need resilience. Find allies. Reframe the challenge. Stay open, but stay grounded.

The Work, the Math, and the Heart

This is where entrepreneurship inside a company gets real. You're not just pitching ideas. You're navigating systems, challenging assumptions, and finding creative paths forward.

And yes, sometimes you push too hard and create noise. But giving up too early, or bending too easily to the old ways, is also a risk.

We need to hold the balance:

• Don't let process kill momentum

• Don't let passion override logic

• Do the work. Do the math. And do it with heart.

When corporate entrepreneurs are empowered to think this way, they don't just come up with more ideas. They come up with better ones. Ones that survive contact with the business. Ones that move things forward. Ones that get adopted, not just applauded.

So yes, dream big. But also ask the tough questions.

That's what it really means to think like an entrepreneur inside a company.

If you're navigating this balance, staying bold without losing credibility, staying practical without losing momentum, you're not alone. I've been there, and I help intrapreneurs find their path forward while building the resilience to keep going. Let's talk if you'd like support.

Find Your Wave,

Sarah 🌊