What is an intrapreneur ?
An intrapreneur is an employee who adopts an entrepreneurial approach within his or her own company. Unlike an entrepreneur, he or she does not create his or her own structure, but develops an innovative project supported by the organization that employs him or her. By definition, the intrapreneur acts with great autonomy to identify opportunities, propose creative solutions, and steer strategic initiatives, often breaking with traditional corporate methods.
This intrapreneurial approach enables companies to boost their capacity for innovation, while at the same time making the most of in-house talent. As a driver of change, the intrapreneur contributes directly to the company's transformation and its competitiveness in the marketplace.
Adopting this posture requires creativity, initiative, resilience and the ability to convince internal stakeholders. Intrapreneurship represents a real opportunity for employees who want to develop their careers, get involved in high-impact missions and contribute to large-scale projects without leaving their company.
Wondering if you have what it takes to be an intrapreneur? Find out in this article all you need to know to understand this key role and the conditions for its success.
The intrapreneur role
As a catalyst for innovation and equipped with key skills in change management, communication, and project execution, the intrapreneur plays a crucial role in driving entrepreneurial momentum within the organisation. Far from being a lone innovator, this collaborative professional channels their energy into leading strategic initiatives within an existing structure proving that transformation doesn't require breaking away, but rather bringing fresh solutions to the heart of the company.
This dynamic reflects a powerful alignment of interests: gains autonomy, develops new capabilities, and takes on meaningful responsibilities; meanwhile, the organisation benefits from a forward-thinking mindset that generates tangible results. Whether assigned to launch a new product, improve internal processes, or implement social impact projects, the intrapreneur creates value by solving real-world challenges.
Today, intrapreneurship transcends sectors from startups to large corporations, SMEs to the public sector. Even governments now actively seek these profiles to modernize services, develop digital platforms, and inspire innovation in the field. This evolution reflects a broader cultural shift: the intrapreneur is no longer an exception but a rising force a career path for those ready to start change from within and shape the future of their industry, one idea at a time.
What are the intrapreneur’s main tasks?
An intrapreneur's responsibilities help stimulate innovation, boost employee motivation, and improve overall business performance. These include:
- Identifying new growth opportunities
- Negotiating and managing a budget
- Leading a team
- Managing relationships with internal and external partners
- Creating and implementing strategies using the company’s resources
- Developing action plans and adapting them as needed
- Measuring performance and adjusting actions swiftly
The impact of these missions extends across the organization. Skills and processes developed by intrapreneurs are often replicable, fostering broader team potential.
Key skills and qualities
To thrive as an intrapreneur, you should develop the following traits:
- Creativity to design impactful plans and launch innovative products or services
- Leadership to inspire teams toward achieving common goals
- Organizational skills to prioritize tasks and see projects through
- A strong drive for performance, continuous learning, and self-improvement
- Negotiation abilities to gain support from decision-makers and stakeholders
These qualities will be significantly strengthened during your training and through practical business experience.
Entrepreneur vs. Intrapreneur
Like entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs operate with a high degree of autonomy, but within the framework of an existing organisation. While they embrace entrepreneurial behavior, pursuing innovative ideas and launching new projects, they do so without leaving the corporation, benefiting from the support and stability of a structured environment.
A key distinction lies in risk exposure. Intrapreneurs, as salaried employees, are shielded from the financial uncertainties that often challenge business owners. They are not personally liable for project failures, nor are they required to secure venture capital or shoulder legal responsibilities. This security allows them to focus their energy on creating value, rather than surviving volatility.
Another strategic advantage is access to the organisation’s shared resources—talented people, advanced technologies, internal networks, and financial backing all of which accelerate the innovation process. Intrapreneurs also benefit from steady income, social protections, and freedom from the administrative burdens typical of startup founders.
Intrapreneurship represents a powerful model for innovation in established companies combining the agility and creative spirit of startups with the resources and reach of larger structures. It empowers individuals to explore entrepreneurial opportunities, engineer breakthrough products or services, and contribute to economic growth, all while advancing their organisation’s strategic goals. For a new generation of professionals seeking meaning and impact in their daily work, this internal entrepreneur role offers a compelling path forward.
How to become an intrapreneur?
There are many ways to become an intrapreneur. For instance, a manager in any industry could leverage their expertise and experience to convince their organization to support them in an intrapreneurial role.
A background in innovation, management, or marketing can help you enter this career path. You can also pursue specific training in entrepreneurship, with skills transferable to internal initiatives.
The MSc in Global Innovation & Entrepreneurship at emlyon business school provides advanced training in innovation, value creation, and project management. The program prepares agile entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs ready to tackle innovation challenges in all sectors.
This internationally focused Master of Science, accredited by the Conférence des Grandes Écoles, is taught entirely in English over 18 months, including a 4- to 6-month internship. The first semester takes place at emlyon’s Lyon campus, the second at Oulu Business School in Finland, and the third in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, Vietnam’s two largest cities, through the Franco-Vietnamese Center for Management Training.
Innovation, when used as a performance driver, enables businesses to stand out in a rapidly evolving global landscape. You'll learn how to leverage innovation management to develop disruptive ideas and scalable solutions worldwide.
The program emphasizes hands-on skill development. Workshops and group projects help you acquire practical expertise.
Your internship, secured with support from the school, allows you to apply academic knowledge to a real business context, immersing yourself in intrapreneurial innovation from within.
Thanks to emlyon’s prestige and your personal drive, you'll be able to take on real responsibilities during your internship, often working independently on specific project areas. At the Master’s level, internships are especially valuable and often lead directly to full-time employment.
By choosing emlyon, you’ll join the school’s extensive global network of over 48,000 alumni and 2,200 partner companies.
You’ll also benefit from the school’s incubator for student-led projects and from its regular international events.
With 100% job placement within six months of graduation, this program is a powerful launchpad for an exceptional career.
Conclusion
As industries evolve at an unprecedented pace, intrapreneurship emerges as a crucial model for innovation within established companies. Far from being confined to startups, entrepreneurial behavior is now a strategic asset that organizations must cultivate internally. The intrapreneur a true internal entrepreneur combines leadership skills, innovative thinking, and a deep understanding of the company’s ecosystem to transform bold ideas into viable products or services.
By fostering this spirit, companies create opportunities for talented individuals to drive change from within, without needing to leave the corporation. It’s a powerful model for innovation that aligns personal ambition with organizational goals unlocking growth, boosting customer value, and ensuring long-term relevance in a competitive industry.
Recognizing and supporting intrapreneurs isn’t just good practice, it’s a strategic imperative. These professionals are the engine of innovation, capable of turning vision into action and navigating the complexities of corporate structures with agility and purpose. In an era where agility and creativity are non-negotiable, intrapreneurs represent the difference between an established company that thrives and one that stagnates.
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