Not Everyone is Wired to Start a Business. But Many Are Wired to Own Their Space Inside One.

Entrepreneurs get a lot of airtime…and for good reason. Starting something from scratch, taking the risk, and grinding through uncertainty to create a thriving business is no small feat.

But not everyone is built to be the founder. And that’s a good thing.

Some of the most valuable people in your organization aren’t the ones who started it. They’re the ones who own their role like they did. They take initiative. They think creatively. They solve problems. They build systems. They lead.

That’s intrapreneurship. And it’s one of the most under-recognized, under-leveraged assets in many companies.

What Is Intrapreneurship?

In the language of EOS (the Entrepreneurial Operating System), every great business needs two key roles at the top: the Visionary and the Integrator. The Visionary is the big-picture thinker, always dreaming up what’s next. The Integrator is the one who brings it all together: executing on the vision, solving problems, and making the day-to-day run smoothly.

Inside the Framework: Where Intrapreneurs Thrive

When the spirit of execution and ownership exists beyond the leadership team, it unlocks a hidden source of innovation inside your organization. That’s where intrapreneurship comes in.

Intrapreneurs are the people who flourish within a business. They may not have taken the leap to launch a company, but once inside the container where the framework and guardrails are in place, they thrive.

They’re not looking to dig the foundation. But once you give them a defined corner of the world, they’ll take it and run, often faster and further than expected. 

I’ve seen this firsthand in my own role at MKD Wealth. I didn’t start the firm. But I came in over a decade ago, when the operational side of the business lacked organization and efficiency. I didn’t need to reinvent the vision; Joe had that covered. What I needed was room to lead.

And once I had that, I got to work.

We streamlined. We systematized. We grew.

That’s intrapreneurship: taking full ownership from within.

The Myth That Everyone Should Think Like an Entrepreneur

If you’re an entrepreneur, you’ve probably said (or thought), “Why doesn’t this team member just take more initiative?” or “That’s not how I would do it.”

It’s easy to assume that everyone should think like you. But the truth is, if your company were made up entirely of entrepreneurs, it would be chaos.

You don’t need 50 founders. You need the right people in the right seats: people who want to stay within the guardrails but can lead boldly from there.

And the magic happens when you recognize and support those people instead of wishing they were wired like you.

What Intrapreneurs Need to Thrive

If you want to cultivate intrapreneurship inside your business, here’s what it takes:

1. Clear boundaries. Intrapreneurs thrive when they know where the edges are. Define the sandbox—and then let them build inside it.
2. Ownership and authority. Give them real responsibility, not just tasks. Let them make decisions, take risks, and shape their part of the business.
3. Support, not micromanagement. They don’t need constant hand-holding. They need to know you trust them—and that you’ll back them when they lead.
4. Recognition and appreciation. They may not be founders, but they’re building and growing alongside you. Acknowledge that.

A Word to the Intrapreneurs

If you’re reading this and thinking, “This sounds like me,” I see you. You’re not in it for the spotlight. You’re in it to build something that works. You want clarity, autonomy, and impact—not chaos, risk, and ego.

And when you find the right environment? You own it. That’s powerful.

You’re not a watered-down entrepreneur. You’re a different type of leader entirely.

A Culture That Supports Intrapreneurs

If you want to keep intrapreneurs engaged, your culture matters. According to HBR, companies that support intrapreneurship create an environment where calculated risk-taking is encouraged, not punished. These organizations reward initiative, tolerate failure, and make room for experimentation.

Let people color outside the lines a little—especially if they’re still painting within the canvas of your values and mission.

A Word to the Visionaries

And if you’re the visionary? Here’s the reminder: you don’t need to do it all. You may have started the business. But if you’re still running every department, troubleshooting every issue, and making every decision, you’re slowing yourself down.

Look around. Who’s already owning their corner of the business? Who has the potential to take on more?

Find them. Empower them. Get out of their way.

Because intrapreneurs just might be the secret to scaling what you’ve built.