Exploring perceived fear of failure : a comparative narrative study of Finnish and immigrant female entrepreneurs
Galhena, Bhagya (2025)
Pro gradu -tutkielma
2025
School of Business and Management, Kauppatieteet
Kaikki oikeudet pidätetään.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe20251201113235
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe20251201113235
Tiivistelmä
This research explores how native Finnish and immigrant female entrepreneurs perceive and experience fear of failure throughout their entrepreneurial journeys in Finland. Although fear of failure is a significant emotional aspect in the field of entrepreneurial research, the research on the emotional, cultural and gendered aspects of fear of failure through a comparative lens is limited.
Aiming to address this gap, the research adopts a comparative perspective. It also follows a qualitative narrative design within the interpretivist-constructivist paradigm. Six narrative semi-structured interviews were conducted with two native Finnish female entrepreneurs and four immigrant female entrepreneurs from South Asian and African backgrounds. Their stories were analysed in two stages. The first step involved experience-centred narrative analysis, followed by reflexive thematic analysis. A cross-case thematic analysis was adopted to identify shared and different patterns across the narratives. Finally, a conceptual model was developed to illustrate how identity, cultural context and emotional processes influence fear of failure.
The findings revealed that fear of failure is a multidimensional phenomenon that is shaped by the identity, social, cultural and structural context of the entrepreneur. These patterns revealed both shared and different experiences in how Finnish and immigrant female entrepreneurs understand and manage fear. Despite these differences, fear of failure was intertwined with other emotions such as worry, frustration, pride and hope, influencing how women navigate their entrepreneurial journeys.
This study also highlights that fear of failure is not only a psychological barrier, but also an emotional experience that is shaped by identity, migration and social and cultural factors. It further clarifies how these emotional and cultural influences interact by offering a novel comparative contribution to entrepreneurship research. It concludes the need for culturally sensitive entrepreneurial support programmes that recognise the diverse emotional realities of women entrepreneurs in Finland.
Aiming to address this gap, the research adopts a comparative perspective. It also follows a qualitative narrative design within the interpretivist-constructivist paradigm. Six narrative semi-structured interviews were conducted with two native Finnish female entrepreneurs and four immigrant female entrepreneurs from South Asian and African backgrounds. Their stories were analysed in two stages. The first step involved experience-centred narrative analysis, followed by reflexive thematic analysis. A cross-case thematic analysis was adopted to identify shared and different patterns across the narratives. Finally, a conceptual model was developed to illustrate how identity, cultural context and emotional processes influence fear of failure.
The findings revealed that fear of failure is a multidimensional phenomenon that is shaped by the identity, social, cultural and structural context of the entrepreneur. These patterns revealed both shared and different experiences in how Finnish and immigrant female entrepreneurs understand and manage fear. Despite these differences, fear of failure was intertwined with other emotions such as worry, frustration, pride and hope, influencing how women navigate their entrepreneurial journeys.
This study also highlights that fear of failure is not only a psychological barrier, but also an emotional experience that is shaped by identity, migration and social and cultural factors. It further clarifies how these emotional and cultural influences interact by offering a novel comparative contribution to entrepreneurship research. It concludes the need for culturally sensitive entrepreneurial support programmes that recognise the diverse emotional realities of women entrepreneurs in Finland.