THE INFLUENCE OF ROLE MODELS ON ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTIONS

This study examines the impact of role model activities on potential entrepreneur's desire to own a business. A group of students, whose role model owned a business, were asked to rank the influence on career intentions of twenty specific activities in which role models and potential entrepreneurs might engage. The study looks at the relationship between these activities and the desire to own a business. Role model activities related to involving the respondent in professional activities, employment in the business, and discussions about the business were found to be significantly related with interest in starting a business. The results can be useful to those involved in teaching entrepreneurship courses, owners of businesses who are interested in encouraging entrepreneurship, and providers of assistance who council owners of firms.