Mini Conference:14th & 15th May 2025, University of Leeds, on campus

Constrained entrepreneurship – Towards more inclusive scholarship 

14-15 May 2025, at the University of Leeds 

This face-to-face mini-conference, hosted by Leeds University Business School (LUBS)/ University of Leeds, targets PGRs and ECRs – from the UK and abroad – researching entrepreneurship within constrained contexts – for example, rural, refugee, immigrant, women, prison, under-developed economies’ contexts and others.  

We aim to drive contemporary debates around the importance of constrained contexts and ways in which entrepreneurship unfolds within them. The mini-conference will support PGRs and ECRs in recognising their unique scholarly position, and how this position can contribute to the future of entrepreneurship research through inclusive scholarship that brings to surface the experiences of marginalised contexts, and the unheard entrepreneur voices within. 

The mini-conference will build on the experience of a number of LUBS scholars, alongside esteemed external guest speakers, with a demonstrable track of researching constrained contexts.  

To take part in this mini-conference:  

Interested PGRs/ECRs should prepare a 300 word abstract detailing: (a) research title, (b) aim and objectives, (c) background, (d) methodology, (e) contribution to constrained entrepreneurship research (in broad, rather than detailed, terms). Up to 30 participants will be selected to take part in the two-day mini-conference based on the ‘fit’, ‘focus’, ‘novelty’ and ‘potential impact’ of their research.  

All abstracts should be emailed to Dr Deema Refai at d.refai@leeds.ac.uk and Dr Lee Wainwright L.Wainwright1@leeds.ac.uk maximum by 31 December 2024. In the email’s title provision, please indicate ‘Constrained entrepreneurship mini-conference’. 

Shortlisting and registration:  

• 31/1/2025: Abstract assessment outcomes will be sent out to all applicants. Up to 30 applicants will be shortlisted for this event. Note: 

• The top-scoring five abstracts on the assessment criteria will be invited to present their research on a ‘research pitch competition’ on day 2 of the mini-conference, with an opportunity to win an ‘IJEI mentorship scheme’ – See details in the agenda below. 

• All shortlisted PGRs/ECRs will have the option of presenting their research through poster displays during the event – See details in the agenda.  

• 1/2/2025: registration opens for the 30 shortlisted applicants (details on how to register TBC). 

• 28/2/2025: deadline for registration confirmations. 

• 14 & 15/5/2025: 2 day mini-conference held at the Esther Simpson Building (ES LG.08)/ LUBS. 

  Agenda

Agenda Day 1 - 14th May 2025 with speaker profile links

Agenda Day 2 -15th May 2025 with speaker profile links