ATD Blog
5 Ways to Build Your Personal Brand and Achieve More Success in 2026, Part 3
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How to stay curious and act like an intrapreneur.
How to stay curious and act like an intrapreneur.
Tue Mar 24 2026
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In the previous installments of “5 Ways to Build Your Personal Brand and Achieve More Success in 2026,” we discussed self-awareness as the foundation for owning your career and how to use alignment to build your personal brand and achieve more success . From reflection questions to building your network , we charted the first steps to solidifying your personal brand. So, what’s next? In this article, we’ll explore the importance of acting like an intrapreneur.
In the previous installments of “5 Ways to Build Your Personal Brand and Achieve More Success in 2026,” we discussed self-awareness as the foundation for owning your career and how to use alignment to build your personal brand and achieve more success. From reflection questions to building your network, we charted the first steps to solidifying your personal brand. So, what’s next? In this article, we’ll explore the importance of acting like an intrapreneur.
Stay Curious and Act Like an Intrapreneur
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One of the fastest ways to build your personal brand and set yourself up for long-term success is to stay curious , keep learning, and start thinking and acting like an intrapreneur inside your organization. Intrapreneurship is simply taking ownership and initiative where you already work. It means thinking like an entrepreneur, but instead of building your own company, you are building value from within the one you are part of.
One of the fastest ways to build your personal brand and set yourself up for long-term success is to stay curious, keep learning, and start thinking and acting like an intrapreneur inside your organization. Intrapreneurship is simply taking ownership and initiative where you already work. It means thinking like an entrepreneur, but instead of building your own company, you are building value from within the one you are part of.
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Many people spend their careers waiting for instructions, permission, or promotions before they step up. Intrapreneurs do the opposite. They look for problems that need solving. They see gaps that no one has noticed yet. They move first. We wrote a whole chapter about this in Own Your Brand, Own Your Career because it’s going to be so important in the future.
Many people spend their careers waiting for instructions, permission, or promotions before they step up. Intrapreneurs do the opposite. They look for problems that need solving. They see gaps that no one has noticed yet. They move first. We wrote a whole chapter about this in Own Your Brand, Own Your Career because it’s going to be so important in the future.
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Leadership is not limited to the person with the biggest title. Organizations always have room for people who are willing to raise their hand, think creatively, and take responsibility for making things better
Leadership is not limited to the person with the biggest title. Organizations always have room for people who are willing to raise their hand, think creatively, and take responsibility for making things better
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In today’s workplace, change is happening faster than ever. Teams are often remote . Priorities shift quickly. New tools show up constantly. This creates massive opportunities for those who are paying attention and are proactive in solving problems.
In today’s workplace, change is happening faster than ever. Teams are often remote. Priorities shift quickly. New tools show up constantly. This creates massive opportunities for those who are paying attention and are proactive in solving problems.
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While some employees are waiting for clarity or waiting for the next planning cycle, intrapreneurs are proactively testing ideas, improving processes, and finding ways to create value. Over time, their impact becomes impossible to ignore.
While some employees are waiting for clarity or waiting for the next planning cycle, intrapreneurs are proactively testing ideas, improving processes, and finding ways to create value. Over time, their impact becomes impossible to ignore.
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One great example we shared in the book is Ellin Sidell, who worked at Costco and noticed that employees wanted mentorship, but the company’s existing program could support only a small number of people. Instead of accepting that limitation, she designed a mentorship circle model that enabled one mentor to support multiple mentees simultaneously. She advocated for it internally, built support, and launched a pilot. It worked, and not only did it become part of their leadership development efforts, but it also expanded her network with senior leaders and strengthened her personal brand as someone who gets things done.
One great example we shared in the book is Ellin Sidell, who worked at Costco and noticed that employees wanted mentorship, but the company’s existing program could support only a small number of people. Instead of accepting that limitation, she designed a mentorship circle model that enabled one mentor to support multiple mentees simultaneously. She advocated for it internally, built support, and launched a pilot. It worked, and not only did it become part of their leadership development efforts, but it also expanded her network with senior leaders and strengthened her personal brand as someone who gets things done.
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Not all intrapreneurship has to be that big or formal. Sometimes it looks much smaller and still just as powerful. You might notice that your team wastes hours every week searching for files, so you decide to create a shared system that saves everyone time. Or use an AI tool that can aggregate and improve the process. You might document a repeatable process so new hires can ramp up faster. You might anticipate what your manager is trying to accomplish this quarter and proactively offer help before they ask. These simple actions compound over time into a powerful reputation.
Not all intrapreneurship has to be that big or formal. Sometimes it looks much smaller and still just as powerful. You might notice that your team wastes hours every week searching for files, so you decide to create a shared system that saves everyone time. Or use an AI tool that can aggregate and improve the process. You might document a repeatable process so new hires can ramp up faster. You might anticipate what your manager is trying to accomplish this quarter and proactively offer help before they ask. These simple actions compound over time into a powerful reputation.
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At its core, intrapreneurship requires a mindset shift from “that is not my job” to “how can I help?” That does not mean becoming the office pushover or taking on everyone else’s work. It means looking at your role from a higher level, understanding the larger goals of your team and organization, and asking where you can make the biggest contribution. In the book, we talk about the importance of zooming out and understanding the bigger picture. When you do that, you begin to spot opportunities that others miss and position your ideas in ways that get real traction
At its core, intrapreneurship requires a mindset shift from “that is not my job” to “how can I help?” That does not mean becoming the office pushover or taking on everyone else’s work. It means looking at your role from a higher level, understanding the larger goals of your team and organization, and asking where you can make the biggest contribution. In the book, we talk about the importance of zooming out and understanding the bigger picture. When you do that, you begin to spot opportunities that others miss and position your ideas in ways that get real traction
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The more you show up as someone who is curious, proactive, and focused on adding value, the more naturally your personal brand grows. People begin to see you as a problem solver. A collaborator. Someone who cares about the success of the team, not just their own role. Over time, this opens doors to new projects, bigger responsibilities, and opportunities you would never have access to if you simply stayed in your lane.
The more you show up as someone who is curious, proactive, and focused on adding value, the more naturally your personal brand grows. People begin to see you as a problem solver. A collaborator. Someone who cares about the success of the team, not just their own role. Over time, this opens doors to new projects, bigger responsibilities, and opportunities you would never have access to if you simply stayed in your lane.
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Check out the next installment for more tips on building your personal brand.
Check out the next installment for more tips on building your personal brand.
Recommended Reading
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Land Your Next L&D Role
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5 Ways to Build Your Personal Brand and Achieve More Success in 2026
5 Ways to Build Your Personal Brand and Achieve More Success in 2026
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The Learning Leader’s Guide to Personal Branding
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