17911: Beyond Inspiration: The Impact of Entrepreneurial Role Models’ Struggles (session 26090)

Sunday, July 27, 2025

15:30 - 17:00 CEST (GMT+2)

Location: Bella Center: Hall B- B2-m6

Session Type: Paper Session
Orientation: Practice,Research
Shareable link: https://cdmcd.co/RxzbLA

Author(s)

HJ

Hui Jiang

school of management, USTC
QW

Qingxiong Weng

U. of Science and Technology of China, China
LC

Lixin Chen

U. of Science and Technology of China, China
NA

Noor Ul Amin

U. of Science and Technology of China, China
MH

Mathew Hughes

U. of Leicester, United Kingdom

While prior entrepreneurial studies have recognized the inspiring role of successful role models, the struggles these role models face have hardly been investigated. The progress of struggling is significant because it enables others to develop an understanding of the realities of entrepreneurship. Utilizing the cognitive activation theory of stress and the literature on family support, we examine why and when observing the struggles of entrepreneurial role models influences individuals’ anticipated stress and entrepreneurial intentions. The findings from an experimental study (N=248) indicate that the struggle of entrepreneurial role model resulted in increased anticipated stress, which subsequently correlates with lower entrepreneurial intention. Notably, family support can mitigate the adverse effect of entrepreneurial role model’s struggle on entrepreneurial intention through anticipated stress.

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