Integration of role models in entrepreneurship education - impact of a female entrepreneurial podcast on entrepreneurial intentions of female students
Integration von Vorbildern in die Gründungsförderung - Einfluss eines Podcasts über Unternehmerinnen auf die Gründungsabsichten von Studentinnen
- It is striking that fewer women than men start their own business although they would be an enrichment for the startup ecosystem. This thesis aims to present an effective solution to foster female entrepreneurship. Previous researchers found the positive effects of role models on entrepreneurial intentions. Nevertheless, they paid little attention to the impact of entrepreneurial narratives on entrepreneurial intentions. Therefore, the work at hand examined if female entrepreneurial role models raise entrepreneurial intentions of female students. Further it investigated if role models can be integrated through a podcast in entrepreneurship education. Therefore, six qualitative semi structured interviews including a short questionnaire were conducted after exposing them to an extract of the fIVE podcast. Respondents were female participants of the Academic Program for Entrepreneurship.
The research results show that female entrepreneurial role models raise entrepreneurial intentions of female students. It is found that entrepreneurial experience of the role model strongly and gender similarities weakly influence entrepreneurial intentions. Research findings also indicate that a podcast serves as an effective medium to integrate role models in entrepreneurship education. However, it could be combined with visual media or contact possibilities. The results could assist creators of entrepreneurial programs, as they present an effective and innovative approach of integrating role models in entrepreneurship education.