Author(s): Zeina Hojeij, Soulafa Al Khatib
Educational institutions often face challenges that disrupt the education process, requiring leaders to demonstrate entrepreneurial mindsets and behaviors. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a global crisis, necessitating innovative and adaptive approaches from educational leaders. Entrepreneurial leadership, characterized by opportunity recognition, risk-taking, and innovation, is crucial to an organization's success and is linked to effective crisis management. This study investigates entrepreneurial leadership practices and competencies in crises using an exploratory mixed-method approach based on survey responses and semi-structured interviews with school leaders in the United Arab Emirates. The study proposes entrepreneurial traits and competencies that leaders must possess to ensure innovative operations and transitions in times of crisis (pre-, during, and post-crisis).