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Empowering the Next Generation

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posted on 2025-01-31, 11:58 authored by Indrani LahiriIndrani Lahiri

Imagine a world where every child grows up resilient, confident, and equipped to face life's challenges head-on. Now, imagine if the key to unlocking this potential lies not in grand, external innovations, but within the very organizations we work for every day. In this talk, I share my journey of harnessing the power of intrapreneurship to build a brighter future for our children, all while balancing a full-time career as a university lecturer.

The Spark of Intrapreneurship Every innovation starts with a spark—a problem that demands a solution. As a lecturer, I saw firsthand the struggles many children face in today's fast-paced, ever-changing world. Issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, and a lack of coping mechanisms were common, and it became clear that these challenges needed to be addressed early on. But how?

Intrapreneurship is often described as entrepreneurship within an organization, but it's so much more. It's about finding that spark of innovation within yourself and using the resources and networks available to you to create change from within. For me, that spark was the idea of building resilience in children. The challenge was figuring out how to bring that idea to life while fulfilling my role at the university.

The Birth of Bric2022, a Community Interest Company (CIC) that I developed with the mission of fostering resilience in children. The name "Bric" stands for Building Resilience in Children, and the year 2022 marks the official launch of our initiative. Bric2022 is not just a program; it's a movement designed to empower young minds to navigate life's ups and downs with confidence and strength.

The journey from idea to implementation wasn't easy. It required balancing my responsibilities as a lecturer with the demands of setting up a new organization. But here's where intrapreneurship came into play: by leveraging the skills, networks, and knowledge I gained from my academic career, I was able to lay a strong foundation for Bric2022. I used my expertise in education to design programs, my connections to find collaborators, and my position to advocate for the importance of resilience-building.

The Power of Intrapreneurship Intrapreneurship isn't just about starting something new; it's about creating value within the ecosystem you're already a part of. By launching Bric2022 as a CIC, I was able to create a social enterprise that operates within the community but is deeply connected to the educational landscape. This dual approach allowed me to test ideas, gather feedback, and iterate quickly—all while maintaining the stability of my academic career.

This journey taught me valuable lessons about the power of intrapreneurship:

  1. Start with What You Know: Leverage your existing skills and networks to build something impactful. For me, that was using my background in education to create Bric2022.
  2. Balance is Key: It's possible to pursue your passion without sacrificing your career. Intrapreneurship allows you to innovate within your existing role, giving you the security to take risks.
  3. Collaboration Over Competition: Intrapreneurship thrives on collaboration. By working with colleagues, students, and community members, Bric2022 has grown into a resilient force for good.

The Future of Resilience As Bric2022 continues to grow, so does my belief in the power of intrapreneurship to drive social change. My dream is to see resilience-building programs like ours implemented in schools and communities across the globe, creating a generation of children who are not just academically prepared but emotionally strong.

But beyond that, I want to inspire others—especially those who, like me, find themselves torn between a stable career and a burning desire to make a difference. Intrapreneurship is the bridge that can connect these two worlds, allowing you to innovate within your existing role and create lasting impact.

Intrapreneurship isn't just a business strategy; it's a mindset. It's about recognizing the potential for change within the systems we operate in and taking bold steps to make that change a reality. Through Bric2022, I've learned that you don't need to leave your job to make a difference—you can start right where you are.

So, I ask you: What spark of innovation is waiting inside you? How can you use the resources and networks around you to create something truly transformative? The power to change the world doesn't always lie in starting something new; sometimes, it lies in reimagining what we already have.

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Sustainable Development Goals

  • 4 - Quality Education
  • 3 - Good Health and Well-Being