JOURNAL ARTICLE

Courting the Sharks: The Influence of CEO Narcissistic Admiration and Rivalry on New Venture Funding.

  • Published In: Organization Science (INFORMS), 2025, v. 36, n. 6. P. 2304 1 of 3

  • Database: Business Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Sanchez-Ruiz, Paul; Blake, Andrew; Petrenko, Oleg; Maldonado-Bautista, Ileana; Collewaert, Veroniek; Artz, Kendall W. 3 of 3

Abstract

This article examines how two distinct dimensions of executive narcissism—narcissistic admiration and narcissistic rivalry—affect investor sentiment and new venture funding in the context of founder-CEOs pitching to investors, using data from the television show *Shark Tank*. Narcissistic admiration, characterized by assertive self-promotion and charm, is positively associated with investor sentiment, which in turn increases the likelihood of securing funding. Conversely, narcissistic rivalry, marked by defensive and antagonistic behaviors, negatively influences investor sentiment and reduces funding outcomes. The study highlights investor sentiment as a key mediating psychological mechanism linking CEO narcissistic behaviors to funding decisions, thereby advancing understanding of how executive personality traits shape external stakeholder engagement and entrepreneurial success.

Additional Information

  • Source:Organization Science (INFORMS). 2025/11, Vol. 36, Issue 6, p2304
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Business and Management
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:1047-7039
  • DOI:10.1287/orsc.2022.17024
  • Accession Number:189578518
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Organization Science (INFORMS) is the property of INFORMS: Institute for Operations Research & the Management Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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