What Happens If I Fail? Resilience, Identity, and Failure in Entrepreneurial Ventures

Common phrasing used in the instruction and description of entrepreneurship contexts often focuses on “failing fast” or “failing forward.”However, this simplistic conceptualization of failure does not reflect the actual experiences and, at times, mental distress that some entrepreneurs face when their businesses are not successful.  

Drs. Tom Katona and Sarah Zappe will lead an interactive session on the results of their recent National Science Foundation funded project examining the failure experiences of alumni who started a business venture while they were students. As part of the project, the project team interviewed alumni who were part of a business venture during their student experience, had at least one engineering team member, and had obtained at least $5,000 in funding for their venture. The results of the research were interesting, with some individuals reporting that they experienced significant mental health detriments.  However, this was not universal, as others had failed businesses who did not report any mental health impact.   

This session will provide an overview of the factors that contribute to mental health detriments in the face of a failed venture, as well as a discussion of factors that were more protective to participants’ mental health.  

This session is a must-attend for budding entrepreneurs seeking to navigate the unpredictable terrain of business ventures. Faculty members teaching entrepreneurship may also find it invaluable as they consider how to approach the topic of failure in their courses and programs. 

This event is taking place in person and online. In person attendance is limited. Please register to obtain event login information.