The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Management: Entrepreneurship - volume 3

The chapter discusses the concept of entrepreneurial identity, defined as a person’s attitudes and beliefs, attributes, and subjective evaluation of himself or herself in an entrepreneurial role. The authors argue that “becoming an entrepreneur” involves a social role transition, and that entrepreneurial identity facilitates the transition. They discuss the dimensions of this identity, some factors that influence its development, and some consequences for entrepreneurial outcomes.