This thesis investigates the leadership dynamics and identity formation of Vietnamese transnational returnee entrepreneurs as they establish new ventures in their home country. Grounded in the literature on identity work, transnational migration, and entrepreneurial leadership, the study examines how the capital acquired abroad—human, social, and cultural—shapes the returnees' leadership orientations and enables them to navigate organizational and institutional hurdles. Despite the critical role returnees play as agents of change, limited attention has been paid to understanding the specific leadership styles they adopt and how these styles are integrated into their emergent entrepreneurial identities. Through a qualitative approach involving semi-structured interviews with 31 Vietnamese returnee entrepreneurs, we employ thematic analysis to develop a typology of leadership and identity strategies. Findings identify three distinct groups: Transnational Opportunity-Seeking Innovators (adopting Pragmatic/Transactional Leadership), Community-Embedded Returnee Entrepreneurs (adopting Collective/Collaborative Leadership), and Mission-Driven Visionaries (adopting Transformative/Visionary Leadership). These typologies highlight the heterogeneity among returnees, demonstrating that their pre-return experiences and intrinsic motivations condition their post-return leadership choices. The research offers a motivation-based leadership framework that illustrates how the depth of their identity work, ranging from purely pragmatic adjustment to deeply transformative missionary engagement, directly dictates the type of leadership employed. This study contributes to the literature by connecting migration-related identity processes to specific leadership outcomes, offering critical insights for policymakers seeking to harness the distinct leadership potential of different returnee segments for national development.

Authors:
Paige Huyen Trang Nguyen, Vietnam National University, Vietnam

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Paige Huyen Trang Nguyen, Lecturer at VNU-UEB. Interests: Business Management, Entrepreneurship, (Im)Migration, Returnee Entrepreneurship. Current Project: Curriculum design, research excellence, and academic mentorship in business/management.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-paige-nguyen-60870413b

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