Crisis leadership towards entrepreneurial success: a Sri Lankan perspective

Modern business environments are characterized by regular crises, and much attention is paid to understanding why certain individuals and businesses endure while others do not. It has been the entrepreneurial ability to see a crisis as an opportunity that has led to many successful business stories emerging from adversity, such as the recent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Much of the discussion on the subject centres on the abilities and some essential attributes found in leaders and entrepreneurs. Their ability to face such problems is explored in the context of two cases reported in Sri Lanka. The essay's primary goal is to shed light on entrepreneurs' mindsets and how such leaders can contribute their experiences and other skill sets such as creative thinking and innovative problem-solving skills, to starting a new business. The essay concludes by attempting to provide some guidance on the widely contested question of whether entrepreneurs are born or produced in the context of a crisis.