The Canadian experience from the perspective of Brazilian immigrant entrepreneurship in Toronto

Authors

  • Michel Mott Machado michelmottmachado@gmail.com
    Paula Souza State Technological Education Center (CPS), São Paulo, SP York University, Ontario, Toronto, Canada
    https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3444-8271
  • Roberto Pessoa de Queiroz Falcão robertopqfalcao@gmail.com
    Graduate Program in Management (PPGA), University of Grande Rio (UNIGRANRIO), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
    https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8125-0938
  • Eduardo Picanço Cruz epicanco@id.uff.br
    Graduate Program in Management (PPGA), University of Grande Rio (UNIGRANRIO), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
  • Caroline Shenaz Hossein chossein@yorku.ca
    Global Development and Political Science, University of Toronto Scarborough, Canadá
    https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6696-2064

DOI:

10.14211/regepe.e1963

Keywords:

Immigrant Entrepreneurship, Brazilians, Toronto, Canada.

Abstract

Objective: The study aims at analyzing the socio-demographic profile of Brazilian immigrant entrepreneurship in Toronto, its entrepreneurial behavioral traits, in addition to their business profiles. Methodology/approach: The research is multi-method, with qualitative predominance, being exploratory-descriptive. For data-collection, it was conducted a survey and further deepening with face-to-face interviews and field observations. Main results: The majority declared themselves to be from the Brazilian Southeast, white, 35 to 49 years old, married, with children, high academic and professional background. The influence of the state of social malaise in Brazil and the official Canadian discourse, seem to act as factors of ‘expulsion-attraction’ to migration. The job condition of unemployment upon immigrants' arrival can ‘push’ them into necessity-driven entrepreneurship, although there are also ventures that have identified opportunities. Most of the businesses are small and operate in the service sector, concentrated on the West End of Toronto. In many businesses, there was a strong search for identification with the ethnic community itself, which suggests the formation of an 'enclave economy', but in some cases, the main market for local consumers was targeted. Theoretical/methodological contributions: The article highlights the importance of conducting multi-method research to understand possible entrepreneurial configurations by Brazilian immigrants. Relevance/originality: The article has academic relevance given the scarce work on the theme of Brazilian immigrant entrepreneurship overseas. Very little is known about this phenomenon in Canada. Social and management contributions: The entrepreneurial trajectories described minimize risks for future immigrants; also, the discussion about the social capital of the ethnic community allows comparisons with the business of Brazilians in other countries.

JEL CODE: L26, J15, M16 e J61

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Author Biographies

Michel Mott Machado, Paula Souza State Technological Education Center (CPS), São Paulo, SP York University, Ontario, Toronto, Canada

Michel Mott Machado holds a PhD in Business Administration (Mackenzie Presbyterian University), and he is post-doctorate research fellow in Business & Society (York University). He is Professor of the Professional Master in Management and Development of Professional Education, at the Centro Estadual de Educação Tecnológica Paula Souza (CEETEPS), São Paulo-SP/Brazil

Roberto Pessoa de Queiroz Falcão, Graduate Program in Management (PPGA), University of Grande Rio (UNIGRANRIO), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

Professor of Masters in Business Admin. (PPGA-Unigranrio), professor UFF (20h), advisor to SEBRAE - Brazilian Support Service to Small Entrepreneurs - Local Innovation Agents Program. PhD in Management and Consumer Behaviour- IAG - Pontifical University of Rio de Janeiro/ (PUC ? Rio de Janeiro (2018), Master - MSc in Business Management by Fundacao Getulio Vargas (FGV ? EBAPE - Rio de Janeiro ? 2014), Marketing Post graduate by ESPM (1998), Graduated in Agronomic Engineering from the Federal University of Viçosa - MG (1992). Associate researcher at the Laboratory of Technological Innovation, Organization and Services - LabrInTOS / COPPE, at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Marketing Professional with over 20 years of experience in creating and developing new business and projects based on market analysis. Subjects of interest: strategy, marketing, entrepreneurship, sales, innovation, consumer behavior, culture, and tourism as well as event management. Previous business experiences: He has worked for Coca-Cola Co, AMBEV Breweries, Fagga GL Events and other entrepreneurial experiences. Previous experience in Teaching: he was substitute professor of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Management at the Federal University Fluminense (UFF); Professor of the Tourism Business MBA (UFF), professor of the Laboratory of Technology, Business Management and Environment-LATEC in training given to the State Court of Justice - TJRJ. Subjects taught at UFF: Business Strategy, Scenarios and Trends, Business Practices, Project Management, Basic Entrepreneurship and Design Thinking. Candido Mendes University (2003 - 2005) - Assistant professor. Subjects taught at Candido Mendes University: Services Marketing, Product Launching, Basic Marketing and Advanced Marketing, for the courses of Marketing and Business Management. Fluent in English, Spanish and French

Eduardo Picanço Cruz, Graduate Program in Management (PPGA), University of Grande Rio (UNIGRANRIO), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

Departamento de Empreendedorismo e Gestão

Área de empreendedorismo imigrante e empreendedorismo étnico

Caroline Shenaz Hossein, Global Development and Political Science, University of Toronto Scarborough, Canadá

Caroline Shenaz Hossein holds a PhD in Political Science (University of Toronto). She is Associate Professor of Business & Society in the Department of Social Science at York University in Toronto, Canada. She is the Founder of the Diverse Solidarity Economies (DiSE) Collective. Author of Politicized Microfinance: Money, power and violence in the Black Americas (2016)–winner of the 2019 Suraj Mal and Shyama Devi Argawal Book prize from the International Feminist Economics Association and co-winner of the 2018 Du Bois Distinguished Book Award. She is the editor of The Black Social Economy: Exploring community-based diverse markets (2018) and co-author of Business & Society: A Critical Introduction (2017). Currently she is working on her fourth book project, Mutual Aid Groups among Immigrant Women

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Published

2021-05-01

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Machado, M. M., Falcão, R. P. de Q., Cruz, E. P., & Hossein, C. S. (2021). The Canadian experience from the perspective of Brazilian immigrant entrepreneurship in Toronto. REGEPE Entrepreneurship and Small Business Journal, 10(3), e1963. https://doi.org/10.14211/regepe.e1963

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Research article (Theoretical-empirical)

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