The power of intrapreneurship and innovation for international organizations

In the evolving landscape of the past, International Organizations recognized the imperative of innovation strategies to navigate the changing environment. Geneva, serving as the operational center for many International Organizations (IOs), emerged as a hub for best practices in innovation. Numerous organizations mirrored the initiatives of leading private companies and international NGOs by implementing innovative structures.

Research conducted by the University of Geneva revealed that intrapreneurship and bottom-up innovation possessed the potential to fundamentally transform the operational dynamics of IOs. Such approaches were seen as instrumental in enabling these organizations to effectively pursue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the digital age. Despite this potential, organizations often encountered challenges in inspiring such behavior and lacked the necessary structures to scale bottom-up ideas.

The discussion, which unfolded in the past, served as a platform for UN diplomats, staff, and interns to address these challenges. The session incorporated insights from specialists and encouraged interactive discussions among participants, fostering a collaborative exploration of how International Organizations could overcome barriers and harness the power of intrapreneurship and bottom-up innovation for meaningful progress.

Participating in this session:

Speakers

Ms. Tina C. AMBOS, Position at the Geneva School of Economics and Management (GSEM), University of Geneva, Switzerland  
Ms. Katherine MILLIGAN, Former Head of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship at the World Economic Forum
Ms. Corinne MOMAL-VANIAN, Director of Conference Management at UNOG 

Moderator

Mr. Francesco PISANO, Director, UN Library Geneva