The Emergence of Entrepreneurial Identity among Entrepreneurship Students

Abstract

Entrepreneurial identity shapes thoughts and actions of entrepreneurs during the process of opportunity recognition and new-venture creation. Entrepreneurship education is expected to facilitate the emergence of entrepreneurial identity among students. In our research we examine the nature, emergence, and evolution of an entrepreneurial identity among students and graduates of an entrepreneurship Bachelor of Commerce program in Toronto, Canada. After interviewing more than 49 students and alumni, we used both identity and social identity theories to conclude that entrepreneurial identity is a self-perceived identity that individuals acquire after they reject aspects of their current roles in order to create new ones. Entrepreneurship education helps students discover their entrepreneurial identity to a various degree. Once they discover their entrepreneurial identity, students are empowered, specifically rebellious ones that are considered “unfitting” with respect to their institutional roles.