The mediating effect of greed on the relationship between strategic entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial success: does gender of the entrepreneur matter?

Purpose - Understanding the factors that drive entrepreneurial success is crucial, and the role of greed in this context remains controversial. This study investigates how strategic entrepreneurship (SE) influences success, with greed as a mediating factor. Design/methodology/approach - Using survey data from 127 respondents, we applied exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings - The findings indicate that while SE enhances success, greed hinders it. Notably, greed does not significantly mediate the relationship between SE and success, and its impact is not gender-sensitive. Research limitations/implications - These insights contribute to the broader understanding of entrepreneurial dynamics and suggest that future research should explore additional moderating factors such as cultural background, industry type and organizational size. Originality/value - This research broadens the understanding of the impact of greed on entrepreneurial success, an area that has not been extensively studied. It also uniquely explores the moderating role of gender in the relationship between SE and greed, offering fresh theoretical and practical perspectives on the factors influencing entrepreneurial success.