European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Engaged entrepreneurship research in Europe

To coincide with the launch of the book ‘The Palgrave Handbook of Minority Entrepreneurship’ (https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783030666026), ECSB is hosting a free webinar on 20 May at 1:00-3:00 pm (UCT +1) to discuss the challenges faced by entrepreneurs from disadvantaged, minority or under-represented communities and what might be done to enhance entrepreneurial activity within these communities. Some of the chapter authors will discuss their work and the findings from their research.

Any person who attends the webinar will receive a free copy of Chapter 23 by Prof Tim Mazzarol (Future Research Opportunities: A Systematic Literature Review and Recommendations for Further Research into Minority Entrepreneurship) and a 20% discount on the purchase of the book.

The schedule for the event is as follows:

MC – Prof Thomas Cooney (Professor of Entrepreneurship; TU Dublin, Ireland)

1.00pm – Official launch of the Book

  • Minister Anne Rabbitte (Minister of State for Disability, Ireland)

1.10pm – Review of Existing Literature on Minority Entrepreneurship

  • Prof Tim Mazzarol (Winthrop Professor; Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Education; University of Western Australia, Australia)

1.40pm – Understanding the Different Challenges (Panel Discussion)

  • Prof Yvonne Galligan – Panel Chair (Director; Directorate of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; TU Dublin, Ireland)
  • Prof Patricia Greene (former 18th Director of the Women’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor; Professor Emeritus, Babson College, USA)
  • Dr Eva Kasperova (Research Fellow; Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship; Aston University, UK)
  • Prof Arantxa Grau-Muñoz (Associate Professor; Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology; Universitat de València, Spain)

2.20pm – Where Do We Go From Here?

  • Dr Katrina Lawlor – Panel Chair (Dean; College of Business; TU Dublin, Ireland)
  • Prof Norris Kruger (Senior Research Fellow, College of Doctoral Studies, University of Phoenix, USA)
  • Prof Monder Ram (Professor of Entrepreneurship; Director of the Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship; Aston University, UK)
  • Dr Mirela Xheneti (Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Small Business; University of Sussex Business School, UK)

3.00pm – Conclusion

The book was edited by Prof Thomas Cooney (TU Dublin, Ireland) and it brings much needed clarity and definition to the term ‘minority entrepreneur’. This authoritative and timely handbook explores the significant challenges that minority and disadvantaged groups face when setting up new ventures. While the OECD ‘Missing Entrepreneurs’ Reports identified those communities as women, youths, seniors, disabled, unemployed and immigrants, some also consider the adversities facing ‘silent minorities’ including Indigenous peoples, members of the LBGTQ+ communities, ex-offenders, Roma, refugees, and NEETs (Not in Education, Employment or Training). This handbook is open to all these communities and aims to be inclusive of any group who might be considered disadvantaged or under-represented in terms of entrepreneurial activity. With a cast of international contributors, this scholarly handbook discusses the surrounding literature of minority entrepreneurship and takes an all-encompassing approach to its interpretation.