Entrepreneurial and professional CEOs

Abstract

PurposeTo shed some light on the motivational profile of entrepreneurial as opposed to professional CEOs in Greece.Design/methodology/approachBased on McClelland's motivational patterns, i.e. power, achievement and affiliation, as well as responsibility; interviews with Greek entrepreneurial and professional CEOs were conducted. Then, interviews were content‐analysed, in order to identify differences in motivational profiles of those two groups of CEOs.FindingsAchievement, motivation and responsibility were found to be the most significant discriminating factors between entrepreneurial and professional CEOs.Research limitations/implicationsThe current research focuses only on McClelland's typology. Other aspects affecting entrepreneurial inclination are not studied in the current paper.Practical implicationsOne of the major implications deriving from the identified characteristics of successful entrepreneurial and professional CEOs has to do with the preparation and training of young leaders for both larger and smaller firms.Originality/valueThis paper studies, for the first time, the leadership profile of CEOs in Greece and identifies differences between professional and entrepreneurial ones. This is of great value in an SMEs dominated economy, such as Greece, where these research findings can be used for the development of entrepreneurship.