1043: Navigating Inequality in Entrepreneurship: Strategies and Evaluations of Marginalized Entrepreneurs (14721)

Organizer(s)

• YC

  Yixi Chen

  Columbia Business School

Participant(s)

• SO

  Siobhan O'Mahony

  Boston U., United States

Presenter(s)

• FP

  Florencio Portocarrero

  London School of Economics and Political Science, United States

Participant(s)

• VB

  Vanessa Burbano

  Columbia Business School, United States
• MW

  Michael White

  Columbia Business School

Discussant(s)

• AT

  Andras Tilcsik

  U. of Toronto, Canada

Presenter(s)

• YC

  Yixi Chen

  Columbia Business School

Organizer(s)

• KH

  Kylie Hwang

  Northwestern Kellogg School of Management, United States

Presenter(s)

• SP

  Sandra Portocarrero

  Columbia Business School, United States

Participant(s)

• DW

  Dan Wang

  Columbia Business School, United States
• YP

  Yunjung Pak

  U. of Alberta, Canada

Presenter(s)

• SK

  Suntae Kim

  Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, United States

Participant(s)

• SY

  Simon (Seongbin) Yoon

  U. of California, Irvine, United States
• HL

  Hyo Young Lee

  Boston U. Questrom School of Business, United States

Presenter(s)

• AM

  Amisha Miller

  NYU Stern, United States

Accessing resources, and subsequent success, is not equal for all entrepreneurs. Questions about disparities in entrepreneurship have garnered major attention in the literature. Marginalized individuals face pervasive barriers as a result of stakeholders and investors’ biases. While past research has shown inherent barriers posed by marginalized identities, scant research has examined the strategic actions of both the entrepreneurs themselves and the supporting organizations in shaping these marginalized entrepreneurs’ journeys and outcomes. Thus, our symposium aims to advance our understanding of how marginalized entrepreneurs and their supporting organizations, such as training programs and investment funds, navigate the challenges posed by marginalized identities. Our presenters explore various strategies and their effectiveness from the side of entrepreneurs and involved agencies in supporting marginalized entrepreneurs overcome challenges associated with their marginalized identities. We center around two interrelated questions: What strategies are employed by entrepreneurs who possess marginalized identities and the organizations that assist them in overcoming various challenges associated with marginalized identities? Under what conditions do these strategies successfully support marginalized entrepreneurs, and when do they not? Together, the presentations provide implications for social inequality and pose questions for future research, such as how narrative disclosure helps overcome stigma, how entrepreneurship can override negative status beliefs, how interactions between entrepreneurs and supporting agencies shape entrepreneurial journeys, how evaluation processes may fail to create a more level playing field for marginalized entrepreneurs, and what communication strategies towards marginalized entrepreneurs can effectively increase participation in training programs. Collectively, these papers underscore the resilience and resourcefulness of entrepreneurs from under-represented backgrounds and the importance of creating supportive ecosystems that acknowledge and address the unique challenges they face.

Presentations:

• 16:45 – 18:15 CT (GMT-5/UTC-5)

  1043: Stigma Disclosure in Entrepreneurial Narratives among Justice-Impacted Individuals (14721)
  

  Author: Yixi Chen – Columbia Business School

  Author: Kylie Jiwon Hwang – Northwestern Kellogg School of Management
• 16:45 – 18:15 CT (GMT-5/UTC-5)

  1043: Entrepreneurial Activity as a Way to Override a Stigmatized Immigrant Status (14721)
  

  Author: Sandra Portocarrero – Columbia Business School

  Author: Dan Jun Wang – Columbia Business School
• 16:45 – 18:15 CT (GMT-5/UTC-5)

  1043: Playing A Serious Game: North Korean Refugees’ Journey to Become an Entrepreneur in South Korea (14721)
  

  Author: Yunjung Pak – U. of Alberta

  Author: Suntae Kim – Johns Hopkins Carey Business School

  Author: Simon (Seongbin) Yoon – U. of California, Irvine

  Author: Hyo Young Lee – Boston U. Questrom School of Business
• 16:45 – 18:15 CT (GMT-5/UTC-5)

  1043: Evaluating entrepreneurial potential (14721)
  

  Author: Amisha Miller – NYU Stern

  Author: Siobhan O'Mahony – Boston U.
• 16:45 – 18:15 CT (GMT-5/UTC-5)

  1043: The Impact of Communication Frames on Necessity Entrepreneurs’ Participation in Training Programs (14721)
  

  Author: Florencio F. Portocarrero – London School of Economics and Political Science

  Author: Vanessa Burbano – Columbia Business School

  Author: Michael White – Columbia Business School