Leading Cuban-American Entrepreneurs: The Process of Developing Motives, Abilities, and Resources

Human Relations · 1995 · Volume 48 · Issue 10

Abstract

Entrepreneurs develop and use motives, abilities, and resources to benefit from an environment conducive to entrepreneurship. The present study builds upon analyses of the Cuban enclave in South Florida to analyze the motives, abilities, and resources that this community's most successful entrepreneurs brought and developed in the U.S. Their motives were influenced by family-linked aspirations and role models, need to achieve through business ownership, and by personally and situationally-rooted propensity to accept the risk of entrepreneurial action. Entrepreneurial abilities came through family mentors, education and business experience, and, in some cases, English language skills. Entrepreneurial resources included resources brought from Cuba, but more significantly resources developed personally in the U.S., or arranged through partners and social contracting. Implications for entrepreneurship research and for prospective entrepreneurs are considered.

Keywords

entrepreneurs, Cuban, immigrant, ethnic entrepreneurship, Cuban-American entrepreneurs

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