WHO WE ARE AND
WHAT WE'RE ABOUT
THE POWER OF INTRAPRENEURSHIP
Imagine a world
Where our economy works for every human.
Where business is a solver of problems not just a maker of things.
Where institutions are regenerating ecosystems.
Where we shed our skin as mere human resources and assume a more profound role as change agents for society.
Where work is more than just work.
This is the shared vision of social intrapreneurs around the world. The ‘dreamers who do’ working in back-offices and boardrooms harnessing institutional assets for impact.
This is the dream of the League of Intrapreneurs.
OUR ORIGIN STORY
When we launched the League of Intrapreneurs in 2012, it was based on a hunch - a sense that within our most traditional institutions, from corporations to governments to charities, there was a healthy and growing impatience with the status quo. Employees were seeing the limits of “business as usual” to address real societal challenges. Instead of lamenting this inadequacy, these people were taking action, stepping up and out to create societal change through their day jobs.
We called these people social intrapreneurs and gave
them a place to call home.
WITH GRATITUDE
The League of Intrapreneurs exists because of the vision, tenacity and generosity of hundreds of people around the world.
We want to honor some of the individuals who have been instrumental in making the dream a reality.
John Elkington stoked the embers of an early concept and believed in the need to share the stories of this special breed of changemaker.
Alexa Clay combined her futuristic impulses with hustle and grit to bring The League of Intrapreneurs into the world. Courageous intrapreneurs Rosario Londoño (IDB), Gib Bulloch (Accenture), Duncan Learmouth (GSK) and Julie Wallace (Standard Chartered) navigated fierce terrain to unlock essential institutional and community support.
The teams at Imaginals and Ashoka put heart and soul into bringing The League to life with special gratitude to James Parr for the back of envelope scheming, Charlotte Cline for crafting and stewarding a brand to which so many want to belong. And to the inimitable Tom Jennings for the constant flow of inspiring illustrations.
Heiko Spitzeck at FDC and his dogged determination introduced the League into the hallowed halls of academia.
Sandra Ortiz-Diaz at the BMW Foundation was the super-connector who saw the potential of the League from its infancy and made critical connections to help it grow into a truly global impact community.
Michel Bachman channeled his burning-man ethos to cultivate a community that is 100% human, radically co-created, built on a deep reservoir of trust and that loves to dance.
And to all of our catalysts and partners who brought the League to cubicles far and wide, we celebrate you!
TODAY, WE ARE THE FIRST AND LEADING GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF INTRAPRENEURS INNOVATING TO SOLVE THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES OF OUR TIME.
TODAY, WE ARE THE FIRST AND LEADING GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF INTRAPRENEURS INNOVATING TO SOLVE THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES OF OUR TIME.
"Very few forums are safe spaces where you can find like-minded peers and be equipped for the journey of change inside a large organization. The League is not only beneficial, the whole experience has been mindblowing"
Chipo Mushwana
Nedbank
"Being a League Fellow has been an incredible collective experience to reinforce my personal mission, clarify my dream for impact and take decisions on practical next steps for achieving systems change. Having the opportunity to co-travel with passionate purpose leaders around the world has been terrific."
Mercedes Gutierrez
ikea
"The League of Intrapreneurs is an absolutely unique group of dedicated and inspiring people, a true jewel in a complex business environment. I have never experienced such an intense and trust-based exchange within a global network"
Stefan Koch
Covestro
HOW WE WORK
We have seven principles
that guide how we show up
as a team and as a community.
We call them
The League Way.
1
100% HUMAN
We show up as human and embrace our whole selves. Being vulnerable and real is at the core of all our interactions – sharing our failure is just as important as sharing our success.
6
MINIMUM VIABLE BUREAUCRACY
We keep things simple and distribute decision-making power as much as possible. We have fluid rather than fixed roles.
7
FUN AND FEARLESS
We tap into our inner child, get our hands dirty and celebrate the intrapreneurial journey in all its messy complexity. We’re not afraid to try new things or challenge the status quo.
2
RADICAL CO-CREATION
We are co-creators and share the responsibility of this community.
We learn together and grow together, asking for help is a sign of strength
and we give as much as we get.
3
SYSTEMIC IMPACT
We focus on creating systemic impact across organizational silos. We see the Sustainable Development Goals as a useful tool to focus and evaluate our individual and collective impact.
5
MAXIMUM VIABLE DIVERSITY
Diversity of perspectives, backgrounds and identities is essential to advancing #changefromwithin. We seek to grow a community and movement that is diverse and inclusive and united in our work to advance a just, equitable and regenerative economy
4
TRANSPARENT AGENDAS
We operate on trust and practice transparency. We check in about our personal agendas while striving to serve collective aims.
CATALYSTS
Our Catalysts help advance the movement of intrapreneurship by working with us as ambassadors in all corners of the globe.