Role of Background and Experience in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management

This article analyzes the link between entrepreneurial characteristics and personal background, with a focus on Jacques Guerlain, the founder of Guerlain Perfumer. It explores the influence of background and experience on entrepreneurs and the correlation between siblings in business entrepreneurship.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SMALL BUSINESS
MANAGEMENT

P7 Role of Background and Experience in Entrepreneurship
Jacques Guerlain has been one of the exemplary entrepreneurs, who spurred his passion and
creativity to transform them into extraordinary business products that set him and his
organization apart from the rest of the market. Guerlain’s sensitive and acute sensory skills
(especially smell) was identified and cultured from a very young age, which allowed him to
establish strong connections between his abilities and his objectives. According to Antonini
(2016), socio-cultural and political aspects of various individuals decide their particular mindset,
attitude, perception towards business issues and ways to resolve them. In case of Jacques
Guerlain, the founder of Guerlain Perfumer, a background and experience in creativity, talent,
innovation and passion can be identified.
Behavior: Entrepreneurial behavior of an individual is highly influenced by their respective life
experiences (Alsos and Ljunggren 2017).
Demographic: The similarities and differences in age, race, gender and immigrant status of an
entrepreneur plays a dominant role in determining their business culture.
Human Capital: Studies have explored how the various attitudes towards business of various
entrepreneurs play an important role in deciding who gets ahead of whom.
Teamwork: Networking is one of the most vital elements that determine an entrepreneur’s ability
to connect with the rest of the team and achieve success.
M4 Analyzing link between Entrepreneurial Characteristics and Personal
Background
The FFM (five-factor model) is a theory for studying the various differences and similarities in
entrepreneurial characteristics that are directly based on the background and experience of the
particular entrepreneur concerned. The five dimensions of FFM are listed below:
 Extraversion- The business attitude of Guerlain was imbibed from his own stubbornness
and passion for women in his practical life, which inspired him to create something out
off the beaten track.
 Neuroticism- This personality trait gives an individual high emotional experience and
can be identified in Guerlain’s life.
1

 Conscientiousness- Guerlain was extremely flexible, organized, impulsive as well as
obsessive, which influenced his mode of working and creating connections.
 Agreeableness- Guerlain’s flexibility and tolerance towards new ideas and concepts
permitted him to connect not only with his organizational members but also with the
outer world and nature (Ivančová 2014).
 Openness to Experience- Guerlain’s passion for travelling and horse-riding allowed him
to create stronger connections with himself and his environment. Riding on the fresh
grass early in morning first gave him the idea for many popular products of House like,
Aqua Allegoria, Vetiver, Samsara and more.
D4 Influence of Background and Experience on Entrepreneurs
Latest studies have analyzed how the background and experience of Guerlain played a major role
in determining his entrepreneurial qualities. According to the latest researches, entrepreneurship
is more predetermined than it is cultured, as entrepreneurial teachings have proved to be
extremely influential at the primary schools, less influential in the secondary schools and almost
negligible amongst older people or adults. According to Brownson (2017), inter-generational
traits and qualities have proved to be dominant influences, mainly driven by parental role-
modeling.
Initiatives taken to evaluate the correlation between siblings in business entrepreneurships
further prove the case of Jacques Guerlain and his House by critically analyzing the
socioeconomic variables that are related to entrepreneurship.
2

References
Alsos, G.A. and Ljunggren, E., 2017. The role of gender in entrepreneur–investor relationships:
A signaling theory approach. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 41(4), pp.567-590.
Antonini, D., 2016. THE FRENCH TOUCH IN LUXURY: AN ATTEMPT OF
DEFINITION. The Cyprus Journal of Sciences, 14, p.51.
Brownson, C.D., 2017. Exposure to External Role Models as a Determinant of Entrepreneurial
Culture in Southern Nigeria. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 4(13).
Ivančová, A., 2014. Is it about money or marketing?: international marketing strategies in the
luxury cosmetic industry: exploratory multiple case study of Chanel, Guerlain and La
Mer (Master's thesis).
3