Leading the way: the entrepreneur or the leader?

Researchers seem to focus overwhelmingly on entrepreneurial leadership as seen in recent studies in the literature. This situation becomes more complex as research draws on parallels between leadership and entrepreneurship. This has led to an ongoing debate on the veracity of entrepreneurship as a distinct field of study. The purpose of this article is to explore these independent fields of study to provide a clear understanding of their close association, peculiarities, and theoretical considerations. The article is based on a critical review of the extant literature on leadership, entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurial leadership. It focuses on the existing theories and perspectives and attempts were made to draw parallels within the domains of leadership, entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurial leadership. Entrepreneurial leadership though a distinct field of study within the domain of leadership is deeply embedded in the positive integration of the fields of leadership and entrepreneurship. This close association was further reinforced by similarities and in some instances the replication of attributes and skills within the three fields. This article brings additional insights that exist within the field of leadership and entrepreneurship particularly in proposing an integrative model for entrepreneurial leadership based on the positive integration of entrepreneurship and leadership.