Intrapreneurship VS Entrepreneurship: The Dilemma — Intrapreneur Stories #3

Christopher Waldner knew from an early age that he wanted to build companies from scratch. But when it came to choosing an acad...

With Christopher Waldner

     

Christopher Waldner knew from an early age that he wanted to build companies from scratch. But when it came to choosing an academic path, he found that “entrepreneur” isn’t exactly something you can study for, so he started creating startups in his spare time.

Today, with more than 10 years of experience working side-by-side with corporations as an entrepreneur in-residence, Christopher became what he calls a “serial intrapreneur”.

On this episode of Intrapreneur Stories, Christopher shares realistic insights of being an entrepreneur or an intrapreneur, how you can become one, and why you would choose one or the other.


What’s the difference between entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship? What’s the best incentive model that a corporation can use to stimulate intrapreneurship? What are the main features to look for in an intrapreneur?

Christopher’s experience working on both sides of the spectrum provided him with a unique perspective on how venture builders and corporations can and should act in such environments.

“An entrepreneur in the end always needs to build a company because he needs to earn money somewhere. Within a corporation that is easier: there are processes, there are programs, there are resources.”

In the Interview:

  • Who is Christopher Waldner? — 0:17
  • Discovering entrepreneurship — 2:43
  • Being acquired by Allianz — 4:08
  • Entrepreneurship vs. Intrapreneurship — 8:14
  • Finding the right corporate partner — 10:33
  • The craft of entrepreneurship — 11:56
  • Working with other intrapreneurs — 13:58
  • Key features of an intrapreneur — 16:56
  • A roadmap for project validation? — 18:37
  • Radical vs. incremental innovation — 21:49
  • The best incentive model — 25:00
  • A career path for corporate entrepreneurs — 29:56
  • Promoting failure — 31:32

Do you want to share your story with the community, or do you have a question for the next intrapreneur?

Send an e-mail to leyash@bundl.com.

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