Entrepreneurial Archetypes
Entrepreneurial Mindset Domains
(Confidence Scale)
If you’ve recently taken the NFTE Entrepreneurial Mindset Index™ (EMI) to assess your strengths, this page is a companion resource and is intended to help you understand your results. As a reminder, the EMI is a formative resource to help you have more awareness about your entrepreneurial mindset. Research shows that entrepreneurial behaviors can be taught and learned. The key to developing the Entrepreneurial Mindset is learning about the mindset domains, reflecting on your own mindset, and practicing the mindset in your life!
While you may have multiple entrepreneurial mindset domains that complement you, use the results of your EMI report to find your Entrepreneurial Archetype below. Of the six domains that measure entrepreneurial confidence, your EMI report points to your top three areas of strength.
Click to select your top three domains and we’ll highlight your EMI archetype below so you can learn about entrepreneurs who are most like you!
Communication
& Collaboration
& Collaboration
Creativity &
Innovation
Innovation
Critical Thinking
& Problem Solving
& Problem Solving
Future
Orientation
Orientation
Opportunity
Recognition
Recognition
Comfort
with Risk
with Risk
Category 1: Investigators
Investigators have a talent for thinking objectively, evaluating and analyzing opportunities, and discovering new solutions to customer pain points. Need to think through a complicated process? Need an objective opinion? Ask the investigator.
Jordie Muñoz
3D Robotics
Master Planner
Master Planners use their keen analytical skills to anticipate and reduce risk in order to achieve long-term success.
Bill Gates
Microsoft
Architect
Architects use their
analytical lens to see past established barriers and ways of doing things to anticipate and reduce risk along the pathway to success.
analytical lens to see past established barriers and ways of doing things to anticipate and reduce risk along the pathway to success.
Lorie Greiner
Queen of QVC
Ambassador
Ambassadors know how to ask the right questions and work with others to create a plan to anticipate and reduce risk to achieve success.
Jessica O. Matthews
Uncharted Power
Voyager
Voyagers see beyond the norm to find ways to solve customer pain points, even when it means setting and pursuing long-term goals to achieve success.
Shelia Marcelo
Care.com
Defender
Defenders see the world through a solution-oriented lens. They can set long-term goals and communicate their vision with others to keep the vision over time.
Category 2: Adventurers
Adventurers carry a number of talents and skills in their entrepreneurial tool kit to take a product or service through the journey from idea to success in the marketplace. Some adventurers are innovators and some are great advocates of innovative ideas.
Earvin Johnson
Magic Johnson Enterprises
Promoter
Promoters see through barriers to generate powerful ideas. They have more than ideas, however; they have the analytical skills to manage risk along the path to success.
Jeff Bezos
Amazon
Star Gazer
Star Gazers see great opportunities and have the patience and grit to make them succeed over time. They manage risk and are willing to make sacrifices for
long-term gain.
long-term gain.
Payal Kadakia
ClassPass
Visionary
Visionaries have the skills to manage risk along the way to long-term success. They excel at communicating and collaborating with others to keep the vision over time.
Shiza Shahid
Malala Fund
Disruptor
Disruptors combine a powerful blend of creative and analytical skills to deliver innovative solutions to customer pain points, even when it means pursuing long-term goals to succeed.
Jennifer Lambert &
Jihan Thomas
Swivel Beauty
Conqueror
Conquerors see golden opportunities and know how to ask the right questions and use teamwork to overcome any obstacles along the road to success.
Category 3: Navigators
Like Adventurers, Navigators use a range of talents and skills to successfully chart their entrepreneurial journey. They spot opportunities, find innovative ways to capitalize on them, and have what it takes to create buy-in with stakeholders.
Iddris Sandu
CEO, Spatial Labs
Trail Blazer
Trail Blazers see great opportunities and use their creative and analytical skills to develop innovative products and services that capitalize on those opportunities.
Madame CJ Walker
Beauty Products
Mountain Climber
Mountain Climbers combine creative thinking with analytical skills to generate innovative ideas and build long-term plans to manage risk along the path to success.
Venus & Serena Williams
Miami Dolphins
Groundbreaker
Ground Breakers see opportunities and manage risk to capitalize on them. Their collaboration skills help them manage risk through teamwork.
Dr. Eric Thomas
Motivational Speaker
Pathfinder
Pathfinders see opportunities in trends and the value in short-term sacrifice for long-term success. They inspire others to share their vision and succeed over time.
Bobbi Brown
Bobbi Brown Cosmetics
Explorer
Explorers combine creative and analytical skills to find innovative solutions to customer pain points. They thrive in teams and communicating their vision with others.
Category 4: Visionaries
“What if?” is the favorite question for Visionaries. They don’t let established ways stand in the way of great ideas. They don’t just stop at the idea phase, however—they test their ideas to ensure they will be a success.
Daymond John
Shark Tank Group
Game Changer
Game Changers see innovation through a solution-oriented lens. They embrace taking calculated risks to bring exciting new products and services to market.
Sara Blakely
Spanx
Tactitian
Tacticians have a talent for recognizing great opportunities and creating innovative ways to achieve them. They have the patience to set long-term goals to make their visions succeed.
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah.com
Influencer
Influencers are willing to take chances and excel at engaging others to share their vision. They know the value of teamwork in creating the best product possible.
Dr. Dre
Beats Electronics
Captain
Captains understand that creating visionary products often requires long-term planning and the support of others. They excel at inspiring others to share their vision over time.
Beto Perez
Zuma Fitness
Bridge Builder
Bridge Builders have a talent for spreading their innovative ideas and enthusiasm to others. They excel at collaborating with others to turn their visions into reality.
Discussion Points
Does your archetype describe you?
Do you like the idea of being this archetype?
Which archetype you would most like to be?
Which archetypes would form a “dream team” for your business idea?
What kinds of careers would be a good fit for your archetype?