The role of emotional intelligence and creativity on the entrepreneurial orientation of generation Z

In recent years, many generation studies have been conducted in order to understand the Generation Z that has started or will start their new business life and to interpret their business manners or business preferences. In addition to the features that distinguish Generation Z from other generations, the professional areas they may prefer are among the subjects of interest. In this study, the mediating role of creativity in the relationship between the entrepreneurial tendencies of Generation Z and their emotional intelligence was investigated. The data of the study were collected from 348 university students or newly graduated individuals using a survey method. Participants first evaluated items related to demographic variables, and then items measuring entrepreneurial orientations, emotional intelligence levels and creativity. According to the findings of the study, while the creativity variable positively predicted the entrepreneurial orientations of the Generation Z individuals, the emotional intelligence variable did not have a direct significant effect on the entrepreneurial orientations. However, it has been demonstrated that creativity plays a mediating role in the relationship between emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial orientations. The findings of the the study were discussed in the light of the analysis, and suggestions for future studies were provided