Purpose: This study attempts to explore the demographic characteristics and personality traits of social entrepreneurs in Greece. Five dimensions of social entrepreneurship are considered, in terms of their relationship to the Big Five personality traits.
Design/methodology/approach: This study uses the factor analysis method and Multiple Regression in order to test the hypotheses generated from the literature review. The measures used have already been tested elsewhere in the literature and meet the validity and reliability standards required.
Findings: There are already findings which prove that personality traits influence social entrepreneurship. The expected findings in this study should demonstrate the particular relationship of each of the five dimensions – dependent variables – with the independent variables, the Big Five personality traits, as well as the Demographic ones.
Social implications: Having identified the characteristics of social entrepreneurs those can then be integrated within the business education curriculum to help create more social entrepreneurs. Additionally, business leaders also need to be cognizant of the emerging social needs and consider in their staffing decisions people who might accentuate the social aspects of their enterprises. Originality/value: This is the first study in Greece, concerning social entrepreneurial endeavors and combining personality traits to social entrepreneurship. Since the literature has reported disagreement in findings of other studies, the present study should help illuminate the issue studied.