Dr. Chitra Anand
Author & Advisor on Intrapreneurship
Dr. Anand is a leading researcher on organizational behavior and the former Head of PR for Microsoft Canada. She holds a PhD focused on how innovation scales within institutional hierarchies and is an advisor to global corporations on fostering intrapreneurial mindsets.
Connecting the Dots - Intrapreneurship and System Thinking
We’re taught to connect the dots as children to see patterns, make meaning, and understand the bigger picture. It’s rewarded as curiosity, celebrated as learning, and framed as the simplest path to clarity: a puzzle with a right answer. But somewhere along the way, we stop. The ideas already exist scattered across people, silos, and experiences. The real gap is not creation, but connection. And what prevents that connection is not scarcity of insight, but the discomfort of what emerges when patterns are seen across boundaries. In organizations, connecting the dots is no longer about solving a simple puzzle. It becomes an act of Intrapreneurship. Intrapreneurs are not defined by title or authority, but by perception the ability to see across systems, recognize patterns others miss, and connect dots that were never meant to be viewed together. They reveal what the organization already knows, but has not yet been able to see as a whole
Biography
Dr. Chitra Anand is a transformation strategist and systems thinker at the intersection of power, culture, capital, and innovation. With over twenty years in the technology sector, she has led brand, communications, and operational strategies at major organizations, including Microsoft Canada, TELUS, and OpenText. As the Chief Brand and Communications Officer at Microsoft Canada, she directed transformations during times of digital disruption. Her leadership has earned numerous awards, such as the IABC Gold Quill Awards and recognition from Business for the Arts. Currently, Dr. Anand advises high-growth technology firms on scaling their businesses and navigating complex growth environments. She also serves as a tenured faculty member at Centennial College, where she works with emerging leaders on innovation and human behavior. A prominent voice in intrapreneurship, Dr. Anand advocates for intentional innovation. Her proprietary framework, The Greenhouse Approach, helps leaders simplify complexity and cultivate new systems. Her first book, *The Greenhouse Approach*, is required reading in the Forbes School of Business MBA program. She has recently completed a follow-up book, *Oxygen*, which will be accompanied by a podcast launching in April 2026. Her writing has appeared in *The Globe and Mail* and *HuffPost*, and she's taught at Humber and Sheridan Colleges. In 2022, she was recognized as a Changemaker by *The Globe and Mail* and as a "bridge builder" for women in technology by The A-List. Dr. Anand holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and a Doctorate from the University of Bradford, focusing on innovation and intrapreneurship. Her core belief is that true innovation is not mere disruption but the disciplined redesign of systems that no longer serve us.
Author of The Greenhouse Approach, required reading for the Forbes MBA program
Recognized as a Changemaker and bridge-builder for women in technology by The Globe and Mail
Recipient of the IABC Gold Quill Awards