A New Occupational Role

This chapter uncovers entrepreneurs’ experiences during their socialization to impact entrepreneurship by Seal. Entrepreneurs tend to be inclined toward a social or commercial demand, and Seal transforms them into impact entrepreneurs. They must integrate the social with the commercial in developing a new role. With this aim, internal and external mentoring and cohort training provide shared social knowledge and form a nuanced understanding of behavioral expectations, leading to salient adjustments in the entrepreneurs’ roles. These socialization activities also enable them to gain the necessary skills to turn their idea into an impact enterprise. I propose the notion of “contradictory role demands” to explain how entrepreneurs gain awareness and gradually integrate these demands. I develop this notion by following the entrepreneurs during their day-to-day routine, combining an examination of their biographies with an investigation of their struggles to either make sense of these demands or quit.