Project Mentor: Dr. Willy Das, Lehigh@NasdaqCenter
Project Description:
What does work-life balance mean for a new generation of innovators, influencers, and entrepreneurial leaders?
In an increasingly dynamic environment, entrepreneurial leaders are striving to create value by pursuing impactful solutions for their communities. But how do they maintain their own wellbeing and contribute to the well being of the communities they serve amid this hustle? This study explores how entrepreneurs and innovators addressing critical societal challenges conceptualize wellbeing and work-life balance across diverse contexts.
How do factors such as socio-economic status, ethnicity, race, geographical setting, and organizational culture—whether corporate, academic, or startup—interact to influence work-life balance?
By conducting in-depth, semi-structured interviews with diverse entrepreneurs from rural, semi-urban, and urban settings across multiple countries, this research seeks to uncover how cultural, social, and economic factors shape their understanding of wellbeing and influence their approach to work-life balance. Ultimately, this study aims to enhance understanding of how cultural variations—shaped by factors like ethnicity, race, location, and organizational context—affect the entrepreneurial experience, contributing to the development of ecosystems that support both innovation and holistic wellbeing.
Key Research Questions:
How do cultural beliefs and practices influence innovators' and entrepreneurs' definitions of wellbeing and work-life balance?
What challenges do innovators face in maintaining a balance between personal wellbeing and the demands of their entrepreneurial ventures in different cultural contexts?
How can insights from diverse cultural perspectives on wellbeing and work-life balance be integrated into frameworks that support entrepreneurs in achieving sustainable impact on societal challenges?
We are looking for driven and inquisitive students from all disciplines who are passionate about entrepreneurship, innovation and well-being and who are eager to undertake research that inspires real change . This is an opportunity to engage in real world problem-solving by shaping a better understanding of well being in diverse contexts therefore helping to foster a more supportive environment for change makers.