O artigo descreve as atividades do empreendedorismo brasileiro em Toronto, Canadá. Os dados foram obtidos por meio da aplicação de 74 questionários a empreendedores brasileiros e entrevistas semiestruturadas com 42 destes, gerando uma abordagem multimétodos com análise de dados descritivos da survey e das trajetórias empreendedoras e de histórias de vida. Os pesquisadores realizaram também um trabalho de campo com visita e observação dos estabelecimentos e de empreendedores brasileiros da região. Os respondentes são majoritariamente da região Sudeste, branca, entre 30 e 49 anos, com alta escolaridade e boa proficiência de inglês. Foi identificada uma intenção para empreender por necessidade. A maioria dos negócios é de pequeno porte, incluindo empresas prestadoras de serviços situados na região West de Toronto. Evidenciou-se que a necessária adaptação cultural e a criação de redes de negócios e networking são elementos fundamentais para a criação e manutenção dos negócios. Resultados sugerem fatores que podem ser relevantes à ampliação dos negócios, tais como o capital social, a inteligência cultural, a adaptação do produto/serviço com vistas a alcançar um público mais amplo, o desenvolvimento de meios alternativos de capitalização e o aprimoramento do capital humano, por meio de educação formal e desenvolvimento de habilidades empreendedoras e administrativas. Implicações teóricas e práticas são discutidas ao final do artigo.

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: This 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 'enclave economy', but in some cases, the main market for local consumers was targeted. Theoretical/methodological contributions: The article highlights the importance of conducting a 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. Truly little is known about this phenomenon in Canada. Social and management contributions: The entrepreneurial trajectories described minimize risks for future immigrants; in addition, the discussion about the social capital of the ethnic community allows comparisons with the business of Brazilians in other countries.

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to investigate how social integration, immigrant networks and barriers to ventureing affect the entrepreneurial activities of Brazilians in Canada, indicating how mixed embeddedness takes place in that context.Design/methodology/approachData were collected in Toronto, through the application of a survey with 74 Brazilian entrepreneur respondents and 42 semi-structured interviews with selected subjects, thus representing a multi-method approach. The analysis included descriptive statistics from the survey data and a qualitative analysis of the trajectories and life stories of Brazilian immigrants.FindingsOur sample comprises respondents with a high level of education and proficiency in English, coming predominantly from the southeast of Brazil, white, aged from 30 to 49. The majority of businesses are small and related to the service sector. The article contributes to the literature by discussing the elements related to mixed embeddedness, including the need for cultural adaptation and for the creation of networks as a crucial element for business venturing.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focuses on entrepreneurs regardless of their businesses sector or formality/informality status. It could be used as an instrument to support Canadian public policies for welcoming Brazilians and for the Brazilian government to prevent the evasion of potential entrepreneurs.Originality/valueThe article contributes to the body of knowledge of immigrant entrepreneurship in Canada and of Brazilian entrepreneurship overseas. The results suggest factors that may be relevant to the expansion of their business, such as social networking, cultural embeddedness and adaptation of the products/services to a wider range of target customers.

SUMMARY Purpose: To understand how dignity is perceived by deaf people inserted into organizations, from their interactions with colleagues, bosses and the organization itself. Originality/gap/relevance/implications: In the field of studies on organizational dignity, the phenomenon is being studied under several aspects. However, no research was found addressing the possible relationship between dignity and inclusion in organizations, focusing specifically on deaf people. Key methodological aspects: This is a qualitative study carried out by means of interviews with 13 oral and non-oral deaf persons with work experience in organizations in the Metropolitan Region of Recife-PE, Brazil. Summary of key results: Most deaf people felt socially isolated, not being considered neither by Human Resource practices, nor the target of opportunities in organizations. Oral language proved to be the main difficulty for communication within the organization, although the breakage of this barrier through the maintenance of an interpreter is supported by law. Key considerations/conclusions: The predominant view of dignity by the deaf was based on the elements of valorization/respect/equality. It is inferred that the more intense the experience with elements that violate dignity, the less the feeling of inclusion or the greater the feeling of non-acceptance and the consequent greater risk of social isolation of the deaf. It is believed that, among other aspects, an organizational position aimed at reciprocal recognition and mutual cultural enrichment will contribute to the improvement of the quality of relationships between the deaf and the hearing.

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