In a rapidly changing business landscape, the ability to innovate from within is a primary driver of long-term success and competitive advantage. Corporate entrepreneurship, or "intrapreneurship," empowers employees to think and act like founders, identifying new opportunities, building groundbreaking products, and creating new revenue streams for the organization. This strategic approach transforms established companies from slow-moving giants into agile, market-leading innovators, fostering a culture of creativity and calculated risk-taking that is essential for survival and growth in the digital age.

This intensive training course is designed to equip leaders and aspiring innovators with the frameworks and tools to champion and execute new ventures inside a large organization. You will learn to navigate the unique challenges of corporate innovation, from securing resources and building business cases to scaling new ideas and managing internal resistance. By the end of this program, you will possess the strategic mindset and practical skills required to lead transformative projects that drive growth, create value, and solidify your organization’s position as an industry leader.

Duration: 5 days

Target Audience:

• Mid-to-Senior Level Managers
• Innovation and R&D Directors
• Strategic Planners and Business Development Leaders
• High-Potential Employees with a passion for new ideas
• Project and Product Managers
• Executives in charge of new market initiatives
• Leaders of Corporate Venture Capital units
• Corporate Strategy Team Members
• Marketing and Brand Managers
• Anyone tasked with leading change and growth within their organization

Objectives:

• Understand the core principles of corporate entrepreneurship and its value
• Identify and validate new business opportunities within an existing company
• Develop a strategic framework for managing an innovation portfolio
• Build a compelling business case to secure executive buy-in and funding
• Master lean startup methodologies for rapid prototyping and testing
• Navigate the political and cultural challenges of internal innovation
• Create a high-performing intrapreneurial team and foster a culture of innovation
• Establish metrics and KPIs to measure the success of new ventures
• Learn how to successfully scale a new venture from concept to market

Course Modules:

Module 1: The Foundations of Intrapreneurship

• The difference between corporate entrepreneurship and traditional innovation
• The strategic imperative of internal ventures for growth
• Analyzing organizational readiness for innovation
• Identifying the common barriers to intrapreneurship
• Case studies of successful corporate ventures

Module 2: Opportunity Identification and Validation

• Techniques for uncovering hidden customer needs and market gaps
• Using design thinking to generate and refine new ideas
• Creating and testing problem-solution fit
• Building a value proposition canvas
• The art of the lean business case

Module 3: Building an Innovation Portfolio

• Defining the three horizons of growth (H1, H2, H3)
• Allocating resources to a diverse portfolio of ventures
• Balancing short-term wins with long-term bets
• Developing a systematic process for idea intake and selection
• The role of venture boards and corporate accelerators

Module 4: Leading Lean and Agile Ventures

• Adapting lean startup principles for the corporate context
• The Build-Measure-Learn feedback loop
• Creating and running effective minimum viable products (MVPs)
• Conducting disciplined experiments and A/B testing
• Making data-driven decisions on when to pivot or persevere

Module 5: Securing Resources and Executive Buy-in

• The anatomy of a powerful internal pitch
• Identifying and influencing key stakeholders and champions
• Overcoming internal political obstacles and inertia
• Creating a financial model that resonates with corporate finance
• Understanding the innovation-specific budgeting process

Module 6: Creating and Scaling the Intrapreneurial Team

• Recruiting and motivating the right talent for a new venture
• Defining team roles and responsibilities
• Fostering an autonomous and empowered team culture
• The challenges of team integration within the larger organization
• Managing performance and rewarding entrepreneurial success

Module 7: Navigating Corporate Governance

• Understanding the legal and compliance hurdles for new ventures
• Defining the relationship with the core business units
• Managing intellectual property rights and patents
• The role of senior leadership in sponsoring the venture
• Creating a clear exit or integration strategy for the venture

Module 8: Metrics and Measurement for New Ventures

• Differentiating traditional KPIs from innovation-focused metrics
• Measuring progress in early-stage ventures
• The use of Pirate Metrics (AARRR) for new products
• Reporting on venture health and performance to stakeholders
• Using metrics to guide the next stage of investment

Module 9: Fostering a Culture of Continuous Innovation

• Developing a corporate culture that values experimentation and failure
• Implementing organizational structures that support intrapreneurship
• Training and development for intrapreneurial skills
• Creating platforms for employees to share and collaborate on ideas
• The role of leadership in championing and role-modeling innovation

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.