Abstract
This research explores how leadership within entrepreneurial ecosystems contributes to sustainable regional development. Drawing from a longitudinal qualitative case study of the Greenville, South Carolina ecosystem, the study introduces a five-phase process model that illustrates how local leaders emerge, evolve, and shape ecosystem dynamics over time. These leaders—ranging from entrepreneurs and educators to civic actors and support organization founders—mobilize resources, cultivate inclusive communities, influence policy, and institutionalize practices that foster long-term resilience and innovation. Rather than treating sustainability as an external policy objective, this study positions it as embedded within the very process of ecosystem leadership. Findings show that inclusive leadership practices—such as amplifying underrepresented voices, creating low-barrier entry points for entrepreneurship, and advocating for equitable local policy—are central to building systems that endure and adapt. The model highlights how leadership is distributed, iterative, and deeply intertwined with community needs, identities, and assets. The contribution of this work lies in reframing entrepreneurial ecosystems not only as economic engines, but also as social and cultural infrastructures. By foregrounding leadership as a mechanism of sustainable change, this research offers actionable insights for policymakers, community organizers, educators, and practitioners committed to building resilient, place-based entrepreneurial systems. This study offers a grounded, process-based perspective on how sustainability can be cultivated from within. The paper shares the process model, leadership practices, and real-world implications for sustaining inclusive innovation ecosystems.
Presenters
Lori TrudellAssistant Professor of Entrepreneurship, Management, Clemson University, South Carolina, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Economic, Social, and Cultural Context
KEYWORDS
Entrepreneurial ecosystem, Sustainable leadership, Regional development, Social inclusion
