Entrepreneur or Intrapreneur

Entrepreneurship has become a buzzword these days. People think it is “cool” to be an entrepreneur because it shows leadership, independence, and courage. Well, if you belong to this school of thought, then I have got news for you: entrepreneurship is not a badge that earns you bragging rights; it is hard work and sacrifice! Entrepreneurship is a journey riddled with uncertainties and risk-taking. Not everyone is cut out for the level of risk-taking entrepreneurship entails. However, if you are still unsure whether to venture on this road less traveled, why not get a feel of what it entails before diving in — try being an intrapreneur first!

As an intrapreneur, you get to work within a company. This opportunity allows you to observe the owner(s) of the company (the entrepreneur). You get to see how they operate the business and manage people to achieve goals. One perk of being an intrapreneur is that you don’t bear as much risk because you don’t have as much skin in the game.

Another route to discovering your entrepreneurial prowess is to join the NUTM Scholars Program (NSP). NSP is a one-year interdisciplinary postgraduate scholarship program in technology, entrepreneurship, and design. The TEDLab module of the NSP program involves working in teams to create businesses that solve real problems. Additionally, each team has access to seasoned mentors who guide you through your entrepreneurial journey. Ultimately, it does not matter whether you choose to be an entrepreneur or an intrapreneur. What matters most is that you are doing work that impacts people’s lives positively and is sustainable in the long run.

NSP Scholar’20