Things are moving faster than ever in the corporate world, and high-performing professionals often catch themselves, as Andy Devine says, “moving 100 miles per hour without taking time to build a foundation for how to lead.” As Senior Manager of Business Analytics at Comcast, Devine recognized this challenge in his own career. Then he decided to do something about it.
His solution? Enrolling in Syndeo Institute’s Intrapreneurship Academy, where he completed three transformative modules in the Leadership Track: Strengths-Based Leadership, Workplace Politics, and Power Skills. The impact of this decision continues to reshape not only his leadership style, but how his organization views his potential for growth.
Devine’s motivation for enrolling in Intrapreneurship Academy began with conversations with his leaders at Comcast and a deep-seated desire to lead people effectively. “I wanted to lead people well, and I’m inspired to find opportunities where I can make a difference while leading,” he explains. But beyond the aspiration to lead with meaning, Devine was looking for something more fundamental, a comprehensive understanding of his strengths and how to leverage them strategically.
Intrapreneurship Academy offered him two critical elements, the opportunity to develop a foundational understanding of his leadership capabilities, and connection with a cohort of like-minded connectivity leaders facing similar career challenges.
One of Devine’s most significant breakthrough moments came through Intrapreneurship Academy’s focus on strength-based leadership. The program helped him understand what his strengths were and how they connected to his purpose, vision, and values, creating what he describes as “one streamlined foundation to work from.”
This integration was transformative, and he began presenting his strengths and value statement to his leaders at Comcast. “Some leaders were kind of surprised by how I want to show up and what I care about versus what maybe their perspectives and opinions were,” he notes. This transparency opened new doors and conversations about his career trajectory, including potential moves into strategy, sales and marketing, or even different operational functional areas he had not previously considered to be up his alley.
Intrapreneurship Academy’s approach to strength development goes beyond simple identification. Through a “basements and balconies” framework, students learn how their strengths may be perceived differently by different people. For example, Devine’s “achiever” strength could be seen as ambitious drive by some, while others might interpret it as surface-level thinking or impatience with process. The insight and strength assessment of Intrapreneurship Academy gives students tools for ensuring they are using their strengths effectively and managing those perceptions.
One of the most applicable tools Devine gained from Syndeo Institute’s programming was influence mapping, a process of identifying and cultivating relationships with key stakeholders who provide candid feedback and guidance. It’s a way for leaders to get a 360-degree picture of their skills and strengths and learn a strategic approach to relationship building. These elements helped him understand how his strengths show up in various workday interactions.
“The coursework helps foundationally get you to a point in your career where you truly understand what the next steps are. It lets you see the potential roadblocks along the way and decide how you’ll handle them.” Devine explains. “Intrapreneurship Academy’s approach to networking and relationship building has become a huge piece of my professional development.”
The impact of the Intrapreneurship Academy programming extended far beyond Devine’s relationship with senior leadership; it fundamentally changed how he leads his own team. Previously, he’d found himself second-guessing his communication style and wondering if his messages were being received as intended.
Now, he approaches team interactions more intentionally, taking time to understand how his strengths might be perceived and adjusting his coaching and feedback delivery accordingly. “I’ve spent more time really thinking about how my strengths can be balconies for some, but then basements for others,” he explains.
One of Devine’s most surprising discoveries was realizing he hadn’t been effectively communicating his career aspirations and achievements. Despite thinking he was confident in his interactions with leaders, he found he was “really just scratching the surface” and not being intentional about delivering his story.
His time at Intrapreneurship Academy helped him understand the importance of workplace politics—not in a negative sense—but as a strategic approach to building his professional brand and making his contributions visible; he smiles when he explains this tends to go against his Midwest upbringing. “You need to spend more time and energy on the positive things about you,” he explains, “rather than focusing on negative perceptions or staying silent about accomplishments.”
When asked how busy professionals can find time for development programs like the Intrapreneurship Academy, Devine’s approach is both practical and applicable. Practically, he created “gigs”—development opportunities for his team members that allowed them to take on additional responsibilities while he focused on his own growth. In a way, it’s delegating in the form of training and is a win-win for him and his team.
His advice when it comes to managing time is direct. “You have to own your calendar; you have to own what this time and commitment means and make it clear to your leaders that you need it.” He adds that any leader who doesn’t support professional development isn’t someone he’d want to work for.
Reflecting on what made his Intrapreneurship Academy experience successful, Devine emphasizes the importance of engaged instruction and an invested cohort. While many professional development programs offer good content, the Intrapreneurship Academy’s success comes from the energy and engagement that instructors bring to the courses, combined with participants who genuinely want to be there.
“If you don’t want to be there, you’re not going to see success in these programs,” Devine notes, highlighting the importance of intentional participation and commitment to the learning process.
For Devine, Intrapreneurship Academy provided exactly what he was seeking: a foundation to build on that would accelerate his career journey. But more than that, it gave him the tools and confidence to approach his leadership development with the same strategic thinking he applies to business analytics.
His advice to others considering this journey is clear. “It’s going to create a foundation for you to get to that next step in your career, and maybe a brand new career journey will present itself along the way.”
As Devine prepares for his next chapter—both professionally and personally, as his wife is expecting their first child—the leadership foundation he built through the Intrapreneurship Academy continues to serve him. The program didn’t just teach him about his strengths; it taught him how to leverage them strategically, communicate them effectively, and use them to create value for his organization and his team.
In an industry where innovation and adaptability are crucial, leaders like Andy Devine represent a future of professionals who can think entrepreneurially inside established organizations, drive change from within, and build the kind of strategic leadership capabilities that organizations need to thrive. It’s what Intrapreneurship Academy is all about.
The Syndeo Institute’s Intrapreneurship Academy offers comprehensive leadership development programs designed to cultivate intrapreneurial thinking and leadership skills within established organizations. Learn more about how the Intrapreneurship Academy can transform your leadership journey at intrapreneurshipacademy.org.
