Entrepreneurial Theory and Practice: Leadership Traits and Analysis

This essay provides an in-depth analysis of entrepreneurial theory and practice, focusing on the leadership traits and strategies employed by Sophia Amoruso, the founder of Nasty Gal. It explores Amoruso's journey, from the inception of her business to its growth and eventual challenges. The essay highlights key aspects of her leadership philosophy, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, passion, and strategic planning. It evaluates her approach to customer relations, work-life balance, and personal development, drawing on the principles of leadership and management. The paper also includes a reflection on the lessons learned from the course, emphasizing the link between self-awareness and effective leadership. Finally, the essay concludes by contrasting planning and entrepreneurship and the importance of both for business success.

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ENTREPRENEURIAL THEORY AND PRACTICE
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Abstract
The leadership philosophy is seen in a leader who has inspiration traits. This involves being
competent, hardworking, approachable, supportive and trustworthy. To be successful leader, it is
crucial to be self-aware and self-understand about self-aware. If one is able to pinpoints their
strengths and any areas for development, it will result in being capable to set realistic metrics and
be able to capitalize on the strength and capabilities. This paper will look in great detail on some
of the Sophia Amoruso leadership traits which had made her brand to grow tremendously.

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Table of contents
Abstract............................................................................................................................................2
Entrepreneurial theory and practice.................................................................................................4
Profile..............................................................................................................................................4
Why Amoruso classed as an entrepreneur.......................................................................................4
Strategy deployed by Sophia to achieve recognition.......................................................................5
Evaluation........................................................................................................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................6
References........................................................................................................................................7

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Entrepreneurial theory and practice
Profile
Sophia Christina Amoruso was born on 20th April 1984, San Diego, United States. She is a
fashion designer who has a net worth of $20 million (Gross 2018). She is the founder and owner
of Nasty Gal, and eBay outlets that she initiated in the 2006 at the age of 22 years. She moved
her enterprise away from eBay in the year 2008 and established a Nasty Gal as an independent e
tailor. In 2014, she published her memoir “#GirlBoss” and later adopted into Netflix series in the
year 2017.
Amoruso as an entrepreneur
Success is a term she can define for herself as an entrepreneur and during her tenure, the firm
experienced immense success. She has made the Nasty Gal one of the fastest retail growing
companies. Also, a decade ago, Nasty Gal competed with the likes of ASOS and H&M;
FORBES estimates revenue of $300 million, up from $100 million in 2012 (O’Connor 2016).
She is a visionary, creative and modern entrepreneur who has forged an unprecedented path in
creating a brand (Gardner, Cogliser, Davis & Dickens 2011). She is passionate about
developing her brand in every way possible. She loves meeting girls that have inspired Nasty Gal
to be one of the most coveted brands of all time. By November 2016, her company filed for
chapter 11 bankruptcy protections and she stepped down as executive chairwoman after
previously stepping down as CEO in 2015(O’Connor 2016). Despite her public stumbles,
Amoruso remained optimistic and resilient.

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Evaluation
Striving for excellence with clients and customers: According to the Sophia, having passion is
what it takes to differentiate your business from the rivalry. It seemingly small, but important
details that give her strength were most loyal users who were truly unique shopping experience
(Miner 2015).
Holding boundaries in work life: Amoruso learned it through the hard ways. Therefore, she
believes in getting on board all employees. Creating a work and life balance- she has been
criticised of working a lot, but she say that the critic is coming from people who really do not
know her. She feels balanced and happy when working a lot (O’Connor 2016).
Self-competition; According to Amoruso, it takes a special kind of determination to succeed as
an entrepreneur. She says it important to set personal targets and be persistent on your road of
achieving. Always, revisits you plan, implement and repeat.
Staying humble and keep working; her story is accurate and perfect remainder that money is
important to entrepreneurial and financial freedom. In society where digital media makes success
appear so easy and attainable, she is always grateful to the movers and shaker who display the
braver reality of hard work (O’Connor 2016).
Reflection
By learning this course, it has shown me how self-awareness links between effective leadership
and management (Connors 2011). It simply means that you need to work hard to intimately
comprehend your strengths and weaknesses. Notably, this task has taught me that the only way
to improve self-aware will start by formulating organisation strategies and task sheet. When I
realise an objective, I will go to the list and highlight it’s an” accomplished small victory” (Gross

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2018). This builds a momentum and a sense of accomplishment. I will rate important outcomes
on a set of one out of ten so that I can identify strengths and weakness. Therefore, learning from
the weakness will eradicate the lack of confidence and feelings of inadequacy. Just like Sophia, I
want my leadership philosophy to have inspirational qualities which comprises being
hardworking, approachable, competent, supportive, and trustworthy (Chemers 2014).
Conclusion
Plan and entrepreneurship are frequently regarded as polar counterparts. Approaches are
understood as the quest of an evidently well-defined path. Entrepreneurship is viewed as the
essence of opportunism. That means demanding venture to pivot in novel direction persistently,
as the inform come in and market changes swiftly. Strategic without entrepreneurship is vital
planning while entrepreneurship without plan leads to confusion.

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References
Chemers, M., 2014. An integrative theory of leadership. Psychology Press, pp. 17-24.
Connors, T. D. (Ed.)., 2011. The volunteer management handbook. Leadership strategies for
success. 2nd ed. (Vol. 235). John Wiley & Sons, pp. 11-29.
Gardner, W. L., Cogliser, C. C., Davis, K. M., & Dickens, M. P., 2011. Authentic leadership. A
review of the literature and research agenda, 22(6), 1120-1145.
Gross.L.E., Dec 2018. Girlboss' Sophia Amoruso Shares Her Best Advice For Overcoming
Failure And Starting Over. Forbes. Retrieved on 13 April, 2019 from:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/elanagross/2018/12/28/girlboss-sophia-amoruso-shares-her-best-
advice-for-overcoming-failure-and-starting-over/#3ad413fe3d2e
Miner, J. B., 2015. Organizational behavior 1: Essential theories of motivation and leadership.
Routledge, pp. 58-65
O’Connor. C., June 2016. Nasty Gal's Sophia Amoruso Hits Richest Self-Made Women List with
$280 Million Fortune. Forbes. Retrieved on 13 April, 2019 from:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2016/06/01/nasty-gal-sophia-amoruso-richest-
women-net-worth/#6892ba1b5774