Will transformational leadership still affect the entrepreneurial intentions of higher vocational college students after COVID-19? Moderating role of perceived creativity and economic confidence

The study aims to identify the influence factors on Chinese higher vocational college students’ entrepreneurial intention after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The research uses the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method to analyze the data. Findings show entrepreneurial mentors’ transformational leadership and education and training positively influence entrepreneurial intention, with entrepreneurial attitude mediating this relationship, while perceived creativity and economic confidence moderate the entrepreneurial attitude and entrepreneurial intention. This study adds to the literature by highlighting the effect of transformational leadership and provides pioneering evidence on perceived creativity and economic confidence’s moderating effects after COVID-19.