Unlock your inner intrapreneur

What if, in problem-solving, instead of going directly to ‘what’s the (right) answer?,’ we started by listening and engaging with others about the problem? What if, rather than fearing failure when encountering obstacles, we saw them as opportunities for growth? How would that change our daily work and our approach to problems?

These questions point to three key principles — empathy, resilience and reflection — that underpin the intrapreneurial mindset, says Janine Carmichael, a faculty specialist in entrepreneurship at UM’s Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning. In her role, she offers workshops and in-person support to help people incorporate those principles and cultivate related skills.

The skills can be learned by anyone, she emphasizes, and applied in many different situations. In fact, an intrapreneur is someone who behaves like an entrepreneur while working within an organization, driving change, seeking solutions and fostering growth from within.

The breakthrough

Recently Carmichael supported associate professor Kathy Yerex in steering UM dental hygiene students in a challenge to expand the scope of dental hygiene and tackle unmet oral healthcare needs of Canadian seniors.

As the students wrestled with the problem, they were guided through design thinking for problem-solving — but the breakthrough came during a special class with six guests. Every 10 minutes, each student group moved to a new station to talk to someone else about their idea.

The goal, says Carmichael, was not the product or the solution. Instead, it was about engaging.

The shift to process is significant. “It’s a very big shift for us in education, right?” she says. “Because we’re used to: ‘What did you produce at the end of the term?’”

Listening and power of empathy

“In entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, we really want to get away from starting with a solution,” notes Carmichael. “Instead, we should ask, ‘What problem do you want to solve?’”

Empathy gets to the root of the problem by connecting to who has that problem and understanding it from their perspective, she says.

To cultivate empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, she suggests starting by practicing active listening. This means fully concentrating on what the other person is saying, without interrupting or planning your response while they are speaking. Reflect on their words and emotions and respond thoughtfully.

“We want to hear in their own words,” she explains, “asking good, open-ended questions like ‘Why is this a problem? What have you done to address this problem in the past. Has that worked or not? Why? How does it make you feel?’”

She continues, “And so the interview piece is so important in developing intrapreneurial or entrepreneurial skills. We can send students out to talk to the people that they want to serve, or sometimes in the classroom environment, we can bring in people to share those problems with students.

“Because now they’re learning how to interview. They’re learning about active listening and being compassionate. They’re learning about holding their solutions lightly,” she says.

Building resilience for intrapreneurial success

Resilience, the ability to bounce back from setbacks and adapt to change, is another crucial skill. A path of change or innovation is often fraught with failure, but resilience enables you to learn from mistakes and persevere.

Carmichael explains, “Building resilience starts with developing a growth mindset. This means viewing challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, rather than as insurmountable obstacles. Embrace failures as learning experiences and seek feedback to improve.”

She also highlights the importance of mentorship and role models. She suggests looking for mentors within your organization or industry who can provide guidance and support.

Role models, on the other hand, she says, can motivate you by demonstrating what is possible. Observing how they handle challenges, interact with others and drive innovation can provide valuable insights and lessons.

Check out these stories about UM intrapreneurial role models who made a difference: biology technician Carl Szczerski uses 3D printing to support teaching and learning; staff member Farzana Ebrahim gets intrapreneurial with Microsoft power apps.

Reflective practices for continuous improvement

Reflection is another powerful tool for personal and professional growth. Regularly reflecting on your experiences, successes and failures can help you gain insights, identify areas for improvement, and reinforce positive behaviours.

Effective reflective practices could include seeking feedback from others and journaling on what went well, what could have been done differently and what you learned. Use this feedback to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Be open to constructive criticism and view it as an opportunity to grow.

Carmichael shares, “We don’t learn from experience; we learn from reflecting on experience. It’s important to be intentional about pausing to reflect on what worked well, what didn’t, and what could be done differently next time.”

UM offers many curricular, co-curricular and professional development opportunities to cultivate and build intrapreneurial/entrepreneurial skills, including the Stu Clark New Venture Championship, Better Together, Faculty of Science 3K Pitch Competition, and teaching practices used by Dr. Snehil Dua.