Dr C. Essers (Caroline)

Associate professor - Strategic Human Resource Management

Dr C. Essers (Caroline)
Visiting address

Heyendaalseweg 141
6525 AJ NIJMEGEN

Postal address

Postbus 9108
6500 HK NIJMEGEN

Working days Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

As an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship in the Department of Business Administration, I research and teach entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, as well as leadership.
My expertise is mainly focused on entrepreneurship of various entrepreneurs such as migrants, women and refugees, regularly involving so-called impact entrepreneurs. I investigate how these entrepreneurs relate to their surrounding (opportunity) structures in their daily practices, and how they use these structures to be successful in creative and innovative ways. I think it is important to study how they try to contribute to the empowerment of certain communities, as well as to the solution of specific social challenges, such as the exclusion of migrants and women on the labour market.
Within my work, an important theme is what kind of 'identity work' they apply to be included in networks of entrepreneurs and society as a whole, plus to gain access to social and financial capital.
My recent work, together with several PhD students, focuses on refugee entrepreneurs and labor market integration and second generation Moroccan entrepreneurs and community development. Finally, in my research and teaching I also pay attention to the motivations, experiences and practices of so-called ecopreneurs, and how their entrepreneurship contributes to greater ecological sustainability.
I have co-edited the book 'Critical Perspectives on Entrepreneurship' (Routledge) and my academic work has been published in journals such as Organization Studies, Journal of Management, Human Relations, and Entrepreneurship and Regional Development. I am a Co-Editor for the International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research.
Regarding community work, I am the Chair of Nijmegen School of Management's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
Additional function: Member Council Code-V (https://www.code-v.nl/)