Different outlooks: Executives vs. entrepreneurs

Capital One Business

April 24, 2025|3 min read

This article is a part of our Risk + Reward series. Capital One Business and Inc. partnered to survey 314 business leaders in November of 2024 to explore the factors that affect how they weigh business risks and rewards in navigating modern business landscapes. View our key findings and other articles in this series.

Two illustrated individuals looking in opposite directions.

Business leaders include both entrepreneurs who have a direct ownership stake in their companies' success or failure and executives who tend to operate within a corporate framework with no ownership stake. Their outlook on some key issues differs.

78% of executives and 58% of entrepreneurs say, "The current business climate is positive for my industry."

Source: Inc. and Capital One Business Risk & Reward Survey November 2024

51% of executives and 35% of entrepreneurs say compensation and benefits is a top career decision making driver. 46% of executives and 42% of entrepreneurs say fit with my skills/experience, and 38% of executive and 45% of entrepreneurs say the ability to make a big impact on the industry.

45% of entrepreneurs and 38% of executives say, "Making a big industry impact drives my career decisions."

56% of executives and 72% of entrepreneurs say creating a profitable business or business unit is a top business decision driver. 49% of executives and 38% of entrepreneurs say building a high-growth business or business unit is, and 49% of executive and 52% of entrepreneurs say building a resilient business or business unit.

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Different outlooks: Executives vs. entrepreneurs

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