From Bonds to Bridges: Exploring Social Capital's Role on Migrant Entrepreneurs' Identity Construction

Abstract

This paper contributes to the entrepreneurship literature by illustrating the significance of social capital in shaping the identity of migrant entrepreneurs throughout various stages of the entrepreneurial process. The novelty of this research lies in highlighting the adaptability of the social capital role in constructing the migrant entrepreneurs’ identities, enabling them to overcome challenges encountered in emerging contexts. By employing a thematic-content analysis method strengthened by narratives, we gain a comprehensive understanding of how migrant entrepreneurs interpret and enact their social capital in constructing their entrepreneurial identities. Our results reveal that EI construction is a dynamic process that ME navigate through the strategic use of SC. This involves the cultivation of both bonding and bridging social networks that provide crucial resources, emotional support, and access to diverse opportunities. Our results highlight that ME are engaged in a complex process of identity negotiation, where they must balance the preservation of their origin's cultural identity with the necessity to adapt to the entrepreneurial identity valued in the host country. This process involves a sophisticated interplay of adopting, adapting, and sometimes resisting the norms and expectations that define the entrepreneurial landscape they are operating within.