1st Edition
The Corporate Hero's Journey Your Path to Being an Impact Intrapreneur
Impact intrapreneurs at some of the most powerful organizations in the world are designing new, more sustainable businesses from within. They put their values to work and transform their corporations into a force for good. In a corporate world that still largely prioritizes profit above all else, these people shine a light on how to balance profit with impact, and the inspirational stories captured in this book guide leaders and managers to do the same.
The lack of purpose beyond profit is causing millions of people to question their work and even to leave the corporate world altogether. Companies are struggling with recruitment and retention, as people seek a greater sense of purpose. For many, this would mean finding a way to use their work as a platform for positive social and environmental impact. This book will inspire this change for leaders seeking a different and better way forward. Structured around the stages of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey – upon which Star Wars was based – this book combines the philosophy of Star Wars with inspiring stories of impact intrapreneurs. You’ll get to know Corporate Jedi such as Susie Lonie and Nick Hughes, who, while working for Vodafone in Kenya introduced a mobile payment method which brought financial inclusion to millions; Myriam Sidibé at Unilever, who turns making soap into saving lives; and Gib Bulloch, founder of Accenture Development Partnerships, which provides first-class consulting services to NGOs leveraging their impact. With actionable advice, such as how to create a business case, how to measure social impact, and more, the book is not only an entertaining read, but also helps executives apply insights to their own daily work.
Written for leaders, managers, and all professionals looking to create positive impact through their work, this book will give future Corporate Jedi the courage and tools to use the force of business for good.
1. The Call to Adventure 2. Refusal of the Call 3. Supernatural Aid 4. The Crossing of the First Threshold 5. Belly of the Whale 6. The Road of Trials 7. The Meeting with the Goddess 8. The Woman as the Temptress 9. Atonement with the Father 10. Apotheosis 11. The Ultimate Boon 12. Refusal of the Return 13. The Magic Flight 14. Rescue from Without 15. The Crossing of the Return Threshold 16. Master of the Two Worlds 17. Freedom to Live
Biography
Heiko Hosomi Spitzeck co-founded the first Executive Education Center on Impact Intrapreneurship at Fundação Dom Cabral in Brazil. Here and in collaboration with the League of Intrapreneurs, Yunus Social Business, and the World Economic Forum he challenges employees to become impact intrapreneurs.
“An indispensable resource for change makers within big business.”
Denise Hills, board member, UN SDG Pioneer
“Heiko Hosomi Spitzeck’s new book, The Corporate Hero’s Journey: Your Path to Being an Impact Intrapreneur, is a fun read with the deeply serious intention of releasing the power of intrapreneurship on the world’s most serious problems. The need is so dire that his light hearted approach is the best way to approach it, hiding essential advice in the story of the Star Wars jedi.
If you are a frustrated innovator struggling to do good through business, this book is for you. Our current challenges from climate change to food shortages, from AI to managing water shortages, now demand a step change in the rate of innovation. For this we need an army of intrapreneurs. They require focusing much of that innovation on what matters most. If you are up for the challenge, this book will guide you through finding a way to succeed in making the world a lot better in ways that work for your employer.”
Gifford Pinchot III, author, serial intrapreneur, consultant, thought leader; co-originator of the term “Intrapreneur”
