Entrepreneurship through an Intersectional Lens

The Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence STRATEGO promotes a deeper understanding of the dynamics and challenges faced by individuals and institutions within the EU governance system, with a particular focus on trust, sustainable development, and entrepreneurship. In this context, STRATEGO is pleased to host a thematic webinar on "Entrepreneurship through an Intersectional Lens: Research, Challenges, and Future Directions".

This webinar will provide a structured exploration of intersectionality as a research framework, particularly within entrepreneurship studies. The session will examine the theoretical foundations of intersectionality, discuss how it is applied in entrepreneurship research, and present empirical insights from the ECOOM student entrepreneurship research project. The goal is to highlight research gaps, methodological challenges, and policy implications, fostering a discussion on the future of intersectional research in entrepreneurship.

Whether you are a researcher, entrepreneur, policymaker, or practitioner, this webinar will offer valuable insights into the evolving field of entrepreneurship.

Join us online on Tuesday, 13 May 2025 (10:00-11:00h CET) for this insightful webinar. Scroll down for further details on the programme and how to register.​

10:00 | Welcome and opening remarks

• By professor Johanna Vanderstraeten, Department Management and STRATEGO Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence at University of Antwerp

10:05 | Part 1: Understanding Intersectionality

Presentation 1: Feminist Theory in Entrepreneurship Research

• Presenter: dr. Francesco Paolo Lagrasta (University of Bari)
• Presentation Title: Feminisms and Entrepreneurship: Investigating a Troubled Connection
• Short Bio: Francesco Paolo Lagrasta is a Research Fellow and Adjunct Professor in Management Engineering at Politecnico di Bari. He received his PhD in Industrial Engineering and Management in 2023. His research focuses on the value-driven and motivational aspects of feminist entrepreneurial behavior and the role of gender in entrepreneurial and business processes. Additionally, his research encompasses corporate sustainability, sustainable business models, circular economy, and resilient cities. He has been a member of the organizing committee for conferences and early scholar programs on feminist entrepreneurship and corporate sustainability. He is also a founding member of ES-cogito, an academic spin-off specializing in corporate sustainability consulting.

Presentation 2: Conceptualizing Intersectionality

• Presenter: dr. Erika Branca (University of Antwerp and Ghent University)
• Presentation Title: Defining Intersectionality: Challenges and Applications in Entrepreneurship Research
• Short Bio: Erika Branca is a Senior Researcher at the University of Antwerp and Ghent University, working on the ECOOM Student Entrepreneurship in Flanders project. Her research focuses on entrepreneurship and strategy, with a particular interest in the interaction between individual and organizational dynamics. She has examined how migration experiences shape entrepreneurial strategy and performance, drawing on insights from Applied Psychology and Sociology. Currently, she is expanding this work through an intersectional lens, investigating how overlapping social identities and systemic barriers influence entrepreneurial behavior, capabilities, and outcomes.

10:35 | Part 2: Empirical Insights from the ECOOM Student Entrepreneurship Group

• Presenter: dr. Erika Branca (University of Antwerp and Ghent University)
• Presentation Title: Intersecting Identities in Student Entrepreneurship: Empirical Insights from the ECOOM Student Entrepreneurship Group

10:55 | Part 3: Interactive Discussion and Q&A

11:00 | Closing Remarks

• Date & time – Tuesday, 13 May 2025, 10:00 - 11:00h CET
• Venue – Online (via Microsoft Teams). You will receive a meeting link closer to the event date (and after registration).
• Registration – Register here​
• Target audience – Researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and practitioners interested in entrepreneurship and intersectionality.