Dr. Sasha Boucher is the newest scholarship holder of Leipzig University through a Georg Forster-Research Fellowship awarded by the "Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung". This scholarship is awarded to highly qualified researchers from developing and emerging countries across all disciplines. It aims to recognize the researchers' commitment to achieving the 17 Goals of the United Nations for Sustainable Development. Dr. Boucher will undertake a two-year research project focusing on "Developing an Impact Management Framework for Entrepreneurship Support Programmes in South Africa" at the Chair for the Management & Economics of Innovation under the guidance of Mentor Professor Thorsten Posselt. She completed her doctorate at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa on the topic of “Entrepreneurial Ecosystems”.
Asked about her research, Dr. Boucher answered: “My research focuses on entrepreneurial ecosystems and incentive structures. Building a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem through collaboration among government, private sector, academia and civil society can reduce barriers and boost startup success. Failing to investigate diverse ecosystems can disproportionately affect nascent businesses. Additionally, I am exploring entrepreneurship among disadvantaged groups, examining barriers such as motivation, risk acceptance and problem-solving abilities. Despite entrepreneurship's recognised economic importance, inequality persists, with marginalised and underrepresented groups still facing significant challenges.”
When asked about her motivation, Dr. Boucher said: “Growing up in South Africa, I saw the harsh realities of poverty, inequality and crime, where many turned to necessity-based entrepreneurship to survive. This sparked my interest in the field, leading me to study entrepreneurship at Nelson Mandela University. My academic journey provided a deep understanding of the challenges faced by small business owners in South Africa. A significant experience was my involvement with the South African Cultural Observatory project, which helps artists market their work. I supported artists in developing sustainable business models fuelling my passion for research, lecturing and hosting workshops. I strive to share insights, knowledge and best practices from my research that can support ecosystem actors who struggle to identify gaps to exploit resources adequately. Thanks to the scholarship, I would like to deepen my studies in Germany, strengthen my understanding of entrepreneurship and broaden my perspective beyond South Africa. The Chair of Professor Posselt with his Data-Driven and Impact-Orientated Entrepreneurship Research Unit led by Dr. Kevin Reuther was my first choice for this research stay, as they combine exciting new data collection approaches using the Systemic Entrepreneurship Activity Model with innovative research designs and methods.”