Star performers play a vital role in organizations and knowledge creation. However, existing research has primarily focused on the impact star performers have on organizations with limited understanding of the stars themselves. As important as stars are in organizational life, we know very little about how they became stars and how they identify (or not) as a star. By examining the life stories of top-performing biomedical scientists, this study provides nuanced insights into how stars narrate their life stories and attribute their success, shedding light on the complex interplay between personal and situational factors that shape star emergence and identity and the implications of this on star performer behaviour. In doing so we highlight the importance of recognizing the diversity of stars and their path to stardom. Our findings have important implications for how stars are identified, supported and motivated in organizations.
