So You Think You Can Make A Fortune? - The Role of Entrepreneurial Identity in the Choice to Pursue Entrepreneurship

Sammanfattning: While entrepreneurship is gaining ground among MBA Graduates in the US, as little as 5% pursue an entrepreneurial career after graduation. The aim of the study is to explore the effect of entrepreneurial identification in the choice to pursue entrepreneurship. Six MBA graduates in the Darden Business Incubator are interviewed, and the data is analyzed in relation to a theoretical framework of social psychology, social constructionism and decision theory. The relationship to the counter role of the general manger is explored and the concepts of Identity Talk and Entrepreneurial Passion are discussed. It is found that the respondents do identify with the entrepreneurial role and differentiate themselves from the general manger.