Friederike Welter

Friederike Welter is a Professor of Business Administration, specializing in SME Management and Entrepreneurship at the University of Siegen. She also serves as the head of the Institut für Mittelstandsforschung (IfM) in Bonn, a leading independent policy-oriented research institute focused on small and medium enterprises. Her academic leadership and research have positioned her as a key figure in European entrepreneurship studies.

Research Interests: Her work centers on the dynamics of entrepreneurial behavior in diverse contexts, with a strong emphasis on small business development, women's entrepreneurship, and the influence of media and institutions on entrepreneurial narratives. She advocates for a contextual and inclusive understanding of entrepreneurship, promoting the study of 'everyday entrepreneurship' and challenging dominant Silicon Valley-centric models.

The recent publications highlight a consistent focus on media discourse, identity construction, and the cultural framing of entrepreneurship. Her research often explores paradoxes in entrepreneurial popularity, the representation of women entrepreneurs, and the unique characteristics of the German Mittelstand. These works reflect an interdisciplinary approach, bridging business administration, sociology, and media studies.

Scientific Awards:

• Member of Academia Europaea (2021)
• 21st Century Entrepreneurship Research Fellow (2020)
• Greif Research Impact Award (2017)
• Wilford L. White Fellow, ICSB (2014)
• ECSB Fellow (2011)

Advising and Editorial Roles: While specific students are not listed, her role as Senior Editor of Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice and service on multiple editorial boards indicate significant mentorship and influence in the academic community. She leads research projects such as B06 on 'Paradoxes of Popularity' and contributes to the development of future research agendas in entrepreneurship.

Labs and Research Teams: She leads a research team at the University of Siegen and collaborates closely with the IfM Bonn. She is involved in interdisciplinary projects combining corpus hermeneutics and technography, working with researchers like Simone Schmid and Ted Baker to analyze media representations and societal narratives around entrepreneurship.