Understanding the central tension of Indigenous entrepreneurship: Purpose, profit and leadership

At the heart of Australian Indigenous enterprise sits a central tension - the pursuit of profit (individual) versus the pursuit of independent Indigenous economic development (collective purpose). Whilst the individual/collective duality is not unique to Indigenous entrepreneurs (Farjoun, 2010), it provides for discursive dispute as to the purpose and motivation of individual Indigenous entrepreneurs. This paper seeks to make a contribution by critically discussing how Australian Indigenous entrepreneurs enact leadership as they work to make sense of the central tension of Indigenous entrepreneurship in their own business. Starting with a review of the literature pertaining to Indigenous entrepreneurship, we will unpack the duality at the heart of Indigenous entrepreneurship and the ramifications this has at the individual firm level for Australian Indigenous entrepreneurs. Bringing forward an analysis of Indigenous entrepreneurial motivations – both at the personal and sector levels - we present empirical findings to extend the theoretical literature reviewed. Finally, we discuss how the motivating factors shape Australian Indigenous entrepreneurial leaders as they traverse these difficult and consequential terrains of Indigenous economic development.