Top 6 characteristics of an entrepreneur
By: Doug Wintemute, Edited by: Marie Custodio Collazo
Published: May 15, 2025
Entrepreneurs have developed some of our most beloved organizations and groundbreaking technologies, but success in entrepreneurship requires more than a great idea. These industry disruptors possess key character traits that push them forward in their mission.
Discover the top characteristics of entrepreneurs and how they contribute to entrepreneurial success.
What is an entrepreneur?
An entrepreneur starts and runs their own business, managing daily operations and challenges. Entrepreneurs take significant risks to bring their products and services to the world, grow, and make a long-term difference.
Entrepreneurs have the potential to disrupt all industries at all levels. They can create small and large businesses that provide services from local communities to international markets and develop trailblazing technology. They can even apply their entrepreneurial spirit to social change initiatives and corporate innovation.
What are the key characteristics of an entrepreneur?
The definition of an entrepreneur may vary, but it often includes similar characteristics that help professionals overcome challenges and seize opportunities. While their backgrounds and education can vary, many entrepreneurs share the following character traits:
Curiosity
Entrepreneurship often begins with curiosity, the drive to ask difficult questions and seek out unique solutions. Curiosity fuels entrepreneurial learning and growth, which are critical for scaling ideas and businesses.
Entrepreneurs can stimulate their curiosity with continuing general education, but specific courses in market research and consumer behavior might help them identify unmet needs and new opportunities.
Innovativeness
Entrepreneurs often have a unique ability to think outside the box. Their creativity and willingness to experiment allow them to challenge traditional processes and generate new ideas.
Taking courses in design thinking or creative problem-solving may help entrepreneurs approach problems in unconventional ways and stay ahead of industry trends.
Adaptability
The road to success is often filled with obstacles and change. Entrepreneurs must remain flexible and open-minded in their approaches to overcome uncertainty.
By studying topics and trends in modern leadership and change management, entrepreneurs can learn how to stay flexible and versatile in an ever-changing business landscape.
Self-motivation
Entrepreneurs must push forward when faced with problems and risks. Their ability to stay focused and driven in pursuit of their goals can help them persevere under challenging conditions.
While some self-motivation is innate, entrepreneurs can develop resilience and inspiration with professional development and self-improvement courses and workshops.
Competitiveness
Entrepreneurship is a competitive field that requires ambition and persistence to succeed. Successful entrepreneurs typically have a desire to stand out and stay ahead of the competition.
Professionals can maintain their competitive advantage through continuing education, specifically with courses in marketing strategy and business intelligence.
Decisiveness
Entrepreneurs need to make strategic and difficult decisions, often in time-sensitive and pressure-filled situations. By trusting their expertise and instincts, they can remain responsive and adaptable.
Decision-making and leadership workshops or data analysis and critical thinking courses can all help entrepreneurs improve their judgment when faced with difficult decisions.
Propel your entrepreneurial journey
Successful entrepreneurs often share similar characteristics, but they aren't always born with them. Many of the critical character traits for successful entrepreneurship can be learned and honed through experience and education.
Develop your entrepreneurial potential with an edX entrepreneurship course or entrepreneurship executive education program.