Corporate Entrepreneurship as a new career avenue for MBA graduates

In an exclusive article for MediaBrief, Shamit Shrivastav, Associate Professor of Practice at FLAME University, and FLAME University students (PG2 MBA) Muskan Chandwani and Shivani Pandey write about how Corporate Entrepreneurship can be a new career avenue for MBA graduates.

In today’s rapidly changing business landscape, the need for innovation and adaptability has never been more critical. As organizations strive to stay competitive, many are beginning to explore new business opportunities in allied or alternative areas-beyond their traditional operations.

Corporate entrepreneurship is a strategic business initiative of a large organization that intentionally fosters an entrepreneurial spirit, encouraging employees to innovate, take risks, and make proactive decisions that drive business growth.

Corporate entrepreneurs, or ‘intrapreneurs,’ act as entrepreneurial employees who lead smaller ventures within a larger organization. Their efforts are geared toward promoting long-term organizational growth, enhancing competitiveness, and creating value in dynamic business environments.

Given this emerging trend, it is crucial to integrate the principles of corporate entrepreneurship into MBA curricula, equipping future leaders with the mindset and skills needed to navigate and thrive in such roles.

Diverse aspirations among MBA graduates
MBA graduates are not a monolithic group; their aspirations are diverse and reflect a wide range of career interests and personal goals. While many seek to climb the corporate ladder, aiming for managerial or executive positions, others are drawn to the idea of launching their own businesses.

These aspiring entrepreneurs are focused on developing the strategic, analytical, and leadership skills necessary to succeed in ventures across various industries, from tech startups to social enterprises.

Some MBA students pursue their degree with the intention of transitioning into a new industry, leveraging their previous experience alongside their MBA education to enter more promising sectors. Others have global ambitions, seeking to develop cross-cultural competence and a global perspective that will enable them to excel in an increasingly interconnected economy.

There are also those who aspire to make a positive impact in the public sector or nonprofit organizations, using their skills to address challenges in areas like education or healthcare.

Regardless of their specific goals, MBA graduates generally seek work environments that offer flexibility, autonomy, and a supportive culture—qualities that are essential for achieving professional success while maintaining a fulfilling personal life.

Additionally, some students choose to specialize further by pursuing focused master’s degrees in fields like finance, marketing, or analytics, or by obtaining certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP) or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

Why Corporate Entrepreneurship could be a promising career path
Corporate entrepreneurship offers a unique blend of experiences from both the corporate and entrepreneurial worlds. For those who envision a long-term corporate career, this path provides a new trajectory for professional growth. For aspiring entrepreneurs, it can serve as a valuable training ground before embarking on their own ventures.

One of the key advantages of corporate entrepreneurship is that it involves less risk than traditional entrepreneurship, as the new venture operates within the safety net of a large organization. However, it still requires many of the same skills and attributes, such as opportunity recognition, problem-solving, innovation, resource management, and team leadership.

Large multinational corporations (MNCs) may have the resources to invest in only a few new ventures, so they often set stringent criteria for selecting employees to lead these initiatives. However, graduate attributes such as, problem-solving mindset, fresh ideas, willingness to learn, and commitment to deliver, can be of immense value to drive corporate entrepreneurship.

Facilitating Corporate Entrepreneurship for MBA graduates
Currently, the dominant career path for MBA graduates is to pursue traditional corporate roles across various industry sectors. Most graduates start as management trainees and work their way up to middle and eventually senior management positions. However, there is often a lack of awareness about corporate entrepreneurship as a viable career option.

While fresh MBA graduates may not immediately qualify for corporate entrepreneurship roles, they can certainly aspire to these positions and work toward them over time. To bridge this gap, business schools should enhance their curricula by not only offering courses on corporate entrepreneurship but also by showcasing its potential as a career path.

Universities can arrange interactive sessions with corporate entrepreneurs to inspire students and provide practical insights. Career services teams can collaborate with industry partners to develop strategies for nurturing young corporate entrepreneurs, including expanding internship models to allow MBA students to work closely with those already engaged in corporate entrepreneurship.

Corporate entrepreneurship presents an exciting career avenue for MBA graduates, blending the stability of corporate life with the innovation and autonomy of entrepreneurship. While traditional career paths remain relevant, the appeal of corporate entrepreneurship lies in its ability to empower individuals to drive transformative change within organizations.

As awareness grows and educational institutions, corporations, and industry stakeholders collaborate to create more opportunities, this career path is poised to gain traction. By embracing corporate entrepreneurship, MBA graduates can position themselves not only as successful leaders but also as catalysts for industry transformation and business innovation.

Authors: Prof. Shamit Shrivastav, Faculty of Practice - Design, FLAME University; Muskan Chandwani, Postgraduate Student, FLAME University; and Shivani Pandey, Postgraduate Student, FLAME University.