2013 news cbbs entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship and risk-taking: how to foster an entrepreneurial society

29 May 2013

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At the next Cambridge Judge Business Briefing on Thursday 30 May, Dr Shailendra Vyakarnam will explore the background context to the rise …

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At the next Cambridge Judge Business Briefing on Thursday 30 May, Dr Shailendra Vyakarnam will explore the background context to the rise in entrepreneurship in the UK over the last three decades and the importance of entrepreneurship to the UK economy and the skills required.

Based on research with Professor Barbara Sahakian and her team at the University of Cambridge, Dr Vyakarnam investigated the differences in decision-making and risk-taking between business leaders and entrepreneurs. A separate study was also carried out with gamblers. The overall findings revealed key differences in perceptions of risk. The entrepreneurs seemed to have higher levels of adaptability, took higher risks but also knew when to draw the line. Business managers drew their lines rather earlier, while gamblers were driven by less controlled, more impulsive decision-making skills. Dr Vyakarnam will discuss what this means to business and as a society in terms of tolerance to risk.

The business briefing will take place at the Oxford and Cambridge Club and will begin at 18:30 BST with registration and a drinks and canapé reception.

Dr Shailendra Vyakarnam is Director for the Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (CfEL) at Cambridge Judge Business School. Established in 2003, CfEL provides a portfolio of programmes and activities that are designed to provide inspiration, skills and support for students, graduates, researchers and aspiring entrepreneurs from different backgrounds and at different stages of the entrepreneurial journey.