On October 8, 2024, the Orange County chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI-OC) hosted a dynamic virtual keynote titled “Intrapreneurship: How to Successfully Sell Your Ideas Within Your Organization and Lead Transformation,” presented by Edan Simpson. This insightful presentation emphasized the power of intrapreneurship to drive meaningful change in organizations.
Edan Simpson outlined a roadmap for intrapreneurs—those who act as entrepreneurs within their organizations—to champion innovative ideas and lead transformative efforts. The presentation broke the process into four actionable steps:
- Establishing Urgency
Transformation begins with creating a compelling case for change. Simpson highlighted the importance of identifying catalysts like hypergrowth, strategic shifts, or crises, aligning with John Kotter’s notion that urgency fuels successful transformation.
- Testing and Experimentation
Inspired by Eric Ries’ The Lean Startup, Simpson emphasized testing hypotheses through minimum viable products (MVPs). Examples such as tailored marketing materials or pilot programs for new strategies illustrating the value of experimentation and validated learning. The Build-Measure-Learn feedback loop was central to this phase. - Building and Presenting a Business Case
Articulating the potential of an idea to decision-makers requires understanding executive priorities. Simpson encouraged attendees to present concise, outcome-focused business cases with SMART goals, risk mitigation strategies, and clear resource requests. - Implementing the Plan
Turning ideas into reality demands effective collaboration, stakeholder alignment, and strategic execution. Simpson stressed readiness to address objections, leverage stakeholder relationships, and maintain a focus on organizational goals.
Real World Case Studies
Simpson incorporated relevant real-world examples, including a case study on capacity reduction by Lockheed Martin, to showcase how intrapreneurship fosters innovation. Participants gained valuable lessons on overcoming resistance to change and harnessing teamwork to achieve goals.
