Entrepreneurship and Faith: What a 12th-Century Nun Has to Say to 21st-Century Entrepreneurs

Abstract

Entrepreneurship flourishes in the 21st century, and women have benefited from this trend. Therefore it is remarkable that one of the most written-about women entrepreneurs is not from the 21st century but from the 12th — Hildegard of Bingen. Hildegard was an abbess of a monastery in what is now Germany and was famous for her writings, visions, and music. This paper utilizes the entrepreneurship literature to show how as an entrepreneurial woman, Hildegard dealt with difficulties similar to those faced by 21st century women entrepreneurs. In addition, the paper examines Goossen’s proposed Christian Model of Entrepreneurship (2004) and suggests that Hildegard was an example of a person who fits this model.