Role Models and Entrepreneurial Intention. The Moderating Effects of Experience, Locus of Control and Self-Esteem

International audienceThis article demonstrates that the impact of role models (RMs) on students’self-efficacy and entrepreneurial intention is moderated by their entrepreneurialexperience and personality variables such as self-esteem and locus of control. 276students enrolled in an entrepreneurship education programs (EEPs) were exposedto either a positive or a negative sensitisation message by alumni whobecame entrepreneurs to test its impact on the students’ self-efficacy and entrepreneurialintention. Findings indicate that studentswith entrepreneurial experience,high self-esteem and internal locus of control are less impacted byentrepreneurial role models. We discuss the relevance and effectiveness of rolemodels in EEP