On Becoming an Entrepreneurial Leader: A Focus on the Impacts of University Entrepreneurship Programs

Problem statement: Despite the significant influences of university entrepreneurship programs in developing students’ entrepreneurial intention and abilities, there is little knowledge about how such programs shape students’ abilities to successfully lead entrepreneurial activities. Approach: The main purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the impacts of university entrepreneurship programs in developing students’ entrepreneurial leadership competencies. A sample of 14 undergraduate entrepreneurial leaders defined as having been highly involved in leading university entrepreneurship clubs and activities for at least two semesters was purposefully selected and interviewed. Results: Analysis of the data illustrated the prominent impacts of university entrepreneurship programs in developing students’ entrepreneurial leadership through improving their self-awareness, self-efficacy and entrepreneurial leadership identity realization. Conclusion: It seems crucial to provide opportunities for them to explore their potentials in entrepreneurial leadership and university entrepreneurship programs may need to organize entrepreneurship clubs and associations where the students can experience leadership position and practice real roles and tasks of the leader in entrepreneurial activities. Implication of the findings for entrepreneurial leadership theory development and entrepreneurship education and the areas for future research are discussed.