Date of Conferral

10-23-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Management

Advisor

Kimberly Anthony

Abstract

African immigrant entrepreneurs experience obstructions in growing their businesses into nationally recognized names in the United States. Business leaders and policymakers need to understand the obstructions inhibiting African immigrant entrepreneurs’ success. Grounded in human capital theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the factors experienced by African immigrant entrepreneurs as obstructions for African immigrant-owned businesses from growing into nationally recognized names in the United States. The participants comprised 15 African immigrant entrepreneurs from California, New York, New Jersey, and Texas, each with a minimum of 5 years of business ownership experience and an annual minimum gross sales of $1,000,000. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and relevant public reports. Three themes emerged from the thematic analysis: (a) structural and institutional barriers, (b) social and cultural integration challenges, and (c) discrimination and perceptual biases. Findings indicated that African immigrant business owners face multiple barriers, including structural and institutional factors such as the lack of financial capital, inequality in financial systems, and social and cultural constraints like language barriers and a shortage of networks. Consumer prejudice and racism experienced by African immigrant entrepreneurs affect their attempts to attain competitive and credible business status nationwide. African immigrant entrepreneurs may use these strategies to help grow their businesses. The implications for positive social change include the potential for business leaders and policymakers to develop programs and policies that remove obstructions to support African immigrant entrepreneurs’ business growth and economic sustainability.

Download

Share

 
COinS