Is entrepreneurship really a level playing field?

We often describe entrepreneurship as the great equalizer – a space where anyone, regardless of background, can succeed if they have a great idea. But is it really that simple?

In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw sits down with Janice Byrne, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and the Corus Entertainment Chair in Women in Management at Ivey, for a candid and insightful conversation about the gendered dynamics of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Drawing on three of Janice’s pivotal studies, they explore how leaders “do gender” to establish legitimacy, why well-intentioned role model campaigns can sometimes backfire, and what the rise and fall of the “girlboss” phenomenon reveals about media hype and shifting social expectations.

Timely and sharply relevant, this episode challenges us to reconsider the narratives that shape who thrives in business – and what it will take to build a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable entrepreneurial future.

In this episode:

1:20: A scholar without borders

2:22: What does it mean to “do” gender?

6:22: Do leadership standards privilege certain gendered traits?

11:18: When “Superwoman” becomes a trap

14:28: Who earns the label of “role model” for women?

16:57: The girlboss, defined

18:59: The double edge sword of hype