Abstract
This research examines the relationship between the motivation to lead and entrepreneurial intention through the mediating influence of individual entrepreneurial orientation among young aspiring entrepreneurs. To achieve this objective, we integrate the theory of motivation to lead, which encompasses affective-identity, non-calculative, and social-normative motivations, as well as the dimensions of individual entrepreneurial orientation, including autonomy, innovativeness, risk-taking, and competitive aggressiveness. Through a quantitative approach, a survey method using a self-administered questionnaire was applied to collect data from a sample of 481 young aspiring entrepreneurs enrolled in a training entrepreneurship program at a public university in Spain. The relationships within the conceptual model proposed by the authors were examined through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling. The findings indicate that motivation to lead has a positive and significant relationship with individual entrepreneurial orientation. Similarly, individual entrepreneurial orientation exerts a positive and significant influence on entrepreneurial intention. In addition, the mediating effect of individual entrepreneurial orientation in the relationship between motivation to lead and entrepreneurial intention was confirmed. This research contributes to filling a gap in the literature by expanding the limited empirical evidence on the relationships between the theories of motivation to lead, individual entrepreneurial orientation, and entrepreneurial intention. Understanding the mechanisms of individual entrepreneurship through motivation to lead helps academia, government institutions, and ultimately, businesses structure policies that foster entrepreneurship spirit and leadership. In this way, they will be able to promote innovation and the development of new ventures.
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Objectives: This research examines the relationship between MTL and EI through the mediating influence of IndEO among young aspiring entrepreneurs. Specifically, (i) to analyse whether IndEO directly and positively influences EI; (ii) to verify whether MTL directly and positively influences IndEO; (iii) to analyse whether MTL directly and positively influences EI; (iv) to examine the relationship between MTL and EI through the mediating influence of IndEO; (v) to understand whether young aspiring entrepreneurs of a certain gender or from entrepreneurial families are more oriented towards ntrepreneurship, more motivated to be leaders, and have greater entrepreneurial intention.
Results: This research was conducted to ascertain the relationship between MTL and EI among young aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly considering the mediating role of IndEO. The findings indicated that IndEO fully mediates the influence of MTL on EI, which is one of the main contributions of this study. Furthermore, individual differences among young aspiring entrepreneurs were found to be highly relevant. Young aspiring entrepreneurs with a high level of IndEO are more likely to accept leadership roles, and this motivation is driven by a sense of duty or social obligation rather than expecting rewards or privileges for leading. In the same way, those with entrepreneurial orientation perceive themselves as more autonomous, innovative, competitive, and willing to take risks. Additionally, it was found that MTL, IndEO, and EI are positively and significantly influenced by entrepreneurial family background.
Contribution: This research contributes to filling a gap in the literature by expanding the empirical evidence on the relationships between the MTL model, the IndEO model, and EI. The first contribution evaluates the potential mediating role of the IndEO model between MTL and EI in young aspiring entrepreneurs. It demonstrates the relevance of the mediating influence of IndEO between MTL and the development of EI. For this, previously validated scales of MTL, IndEO, and EI are used within a single model. Secondly, it relates individual differences and various factors of MTL, both with IndEO and with the EI of young aspiring entrepreneurs, contributing to expanding the research of these relationships and achieving a better explanatory understanding of the causal relationships in the field. Thirdly, it contributes to studying the influence of entrepreneurial family background and gender as control variables in MTL, IndEO, and EI in young aspiring entrepreneurs. Finally, it helps to understand the mechanisms of individual entrepreneurship for both academia and the business context.
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Guevara-Otero, N., Vargas-Perez, A.M., Segovia-Pérez, M. et al. Motivation to lead and entrepreneurial intention: the mediating effect of individual entrepreneurial orientation. Int Entrep Manag J 22, 20 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-025-01133-1
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