Research Talk by Prof. Maija Renko from Aalto University.

How can underestimated entrepreneurs be supported by their communities? What challenges need to be met and which opportunities might be overlooked?

Those were the questions that we discussed with leading entrepreneurship scholar Prof. Dr. Maija Renko from Aalto University. We were delighted to host Maija at the Institute for Innovation Management (IIM) on March 24 2026 for a truly insightful research seminar.

In her talk, "The Roles of Entrepreneur Support Organizations in Assisting Underestimated Entrepreneurs," Maija shared findings from her many years working with Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) in Chicago. ESOs act as vital cultural and resource brokers, helping entrepreneurs navigate mainstream norms while opening doors to essential networks. Key takeaways:

• The importance of ESO coaches and instructors engaging in "job crafting" to tailor support for distinct needs among entrepreneurs
• The critical role ESOs play in bridging gaps to resource-rich institutions
• Nuanced differences in how male and female ESO coaches and instructors approach the same curriculum
• Practical lessons we can apply to entrepreneurship courses and support programs at universities like LMU and Aalto

Thank you, Maija, for the inspiring exchange and to the LMU Munich School of Management's Center for Advanced Management Studies (CAMS) for their support in bringing international researchers to our faculty.