Discourses of entrepreneurial leadership: Exposing myths and exploring new approaches

Dean, H.; Ford, J.

Abstract

This article explores gender and entrepreneurial leadership, notably the meanings female entrepreneurs ascribe to notions of entrepreneurial leadership. Drawing from interviews with female business owners, the article questions the dominant hegemonic masculine entrepreneurial leadership model as well as that reportedly associated with women. Research findings illuminate the fluidity and variability of the entrepreneurial leadership construct. Our feminist poststructural lens and critical leadership stance adds new insight into the multiple subjectivities of entrepreneurs and surfaces contradiction and tension that shape the very sense of their entrepreneurial selves. By questioning accepted knowledge, this research offers new perspectives on the multiple realities of entrepreneurial leadership, which should be heeded by policy makers, academics and practitioners alike.

Citation

Dean, H., & Ford, J. (2017). Discourses of entrepreneurial leadership: Exposing myths and exploring new approaches. International Small Business Journal, 35(2), 178-196. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242616668389

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 1, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Mar 1, 2017
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Nov 14, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 14, 2016
• Journal: International Small Business Journal
• Print ISSN: 0266-2426
• Electronic ISSN: 1741-2870
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 35
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 178-196
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242616668389
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1370397
• Related Public URLs: https://bradscholars.brad.ac.uk/handle/10454/8901