Sustainable entrepreneurship and career transitions: the role of individual identity

This paper explores the drivers of career transitions into sustainable entrepreneurship with the aim of furthering our understanding of the individual-level aspects of this phenomenon. Using a multiple case studies approach, insights are provided into the interconnectedness of individual identity and social change drivers. Hence, sustainable entrepreneurship emerges as a space for the enactment of authenticity in one’s career which, regardless of intentionality, results in contributing to social change activities. We find that individualistic identity-related reasons for breaking free (e.g. from authenticity constraints) may be vital antecedents to social outcomes (e.g. breaking up unsustainable practices).