| Abstract: |
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) constitute the backbone of economic development in emerging markets, contributing significantly to employment generation, innovation, and gross domestic product. This study examines the relationship between entrepreneurial leadership and the growth performance of SMEs operating in emerging economies. Entrepreneurial leadership, characterized by vision articulation, opportunity recognition, risk-taking propensity, and the ability to mobilize resources under conditions of uncertainty, has been identified as a critical determinant of firm-level growth outcomes [1][2]. Using a quantitative research design, primary data were collected from SME owners and managers through a structured questionnaire, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression techniques. The findings reveal a statistically significant positive relationship between entrepreneurial leadership dimensions namely innovativeness, proactiveness, risk-taking, and strategic vision and growth performance indicators such as sales growth, employment growth, and market expansion. The study further finds that institutional and infrastructural constraints typical of emerging markets moderate the strength of this relationship. The paper contributes to the growing body of literature on entrepreneurial leadership by providing empirical evidence from an emerging market context and offers practical recommendations for SME owners, policymakers, and support institutions seeking to enhance SME growth trajectories. |
