Title: Entrepreneurial Mindset, Experiential Learning, and Innovation Ecosystems: Pathways to Entrepreneurial Success and Economic Transformation
Authors: Leonard Achile Ogwuche & Merith Ifeoma Anaba
Volume: 10
Issue: 9
Pages: 283-299
Publication Date: 2026/09/28
Abstract:
This article examines the interconnected roles of entrepreneurial mindset, experiential learning, and innovation ecosystems in shaping entrepreneurial success and driving economic transformation, particularly within developing and emerging market contexts. Drawing upon a systematic synthesis of 74 scholarly sources, the study develops an integrated framework that articulates how individual-level cognitive and affective attributes interact with pedagogical interventions and broader ecosystem conditions to influence venture creation, innovation outcomes, and graduate employability. The article advances theoretical understanding by proposing a tripartite model that positions experiential learning as the mechanism through which entrepreneurial mindset is cultivated, and innovation ecosystems as the environmental architecture that determines whether mindset and learning translate into sustainable venture creation and economic impact. Six testable propositions are derived to guide future empirical inquiry. The findings carry significant implications for higher education institutions, policymakers, and entrepreneurship development practitioners seeking to design more effective interventions that bridge the gap between entrepreneurial ambition and realised economic outcomes. The article contributes to the entrepreneurship literature by offering a conceptually rigorous and contextually grounded synthesis that integrates previously disparate streams of research on entrepreneurial cognition, pedagogy, and ecosystem dynamics.