Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design

Innovation Competence Development Tool

Mapping the 'New Nordic' Region's Start-Up Enterprises from the Perspective of Leadership Characteristics, Mindset, and Skills - 2023 KDP competition

Project overview

Student name

Lili Érmezei

Teacher

Gábor Ébli

Year of project

2023

Her doctoral research focuses on the mindsets of start-up founders in the New Nordic region and seeks to uncover traits that made them successful.

The anticipated outcome is twofold: a comprehensive understanding of organisational future-proofing and a strategic framework to bolster innovation capacity within the Hungarian entrepreneurial landscape.

Start-ups are a vital component of the global economy, with an ecosystem value exceeding $7.6 billion, surpassing the individual GDP of many G7 countries (GSER, 2023). Despite the high number of start-ups, their success rate remains modest. This study seeks to demystify the elements of success in start-up ventures through the lens of leadership and mindset. It focuses on the mental frameworks, decision-making characteristics, and soft skills of founders and their teams as catalysts for success. Drawing on an analysis of Nordic unicorn start-up successes, the research aims to develop a tool for innovation competence development (Innovation Competence Development Tool).

This instrument will not only help identify but also prioritise the soft skills and cognitive properties critical for sustained growth and innovation.

By evaluating start-ups in both Finland and Hungary, the study provides a platform for cross-cultural entrepreneurial skill assessment, offering insights into the recipe for lasting entrepreneurial and leadership success.

The anticipated outcome is a two-fold contribution: a comprehensive portrait of organisational future-proofing and a strategic tool to enhance the innovation capacity within the Hungarian entrepreneurial domain.

Corporate expert: Péter János Szabadhegy
Partner: Future Potentials Observatory Nonprofit LLC