Dark triad personality traits and born global internationalization

Abstract

This research seeks to enrich our understanding of small and entrepreneurial firms' internationalization processes by investigating how the dark triad personality traits (Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) of chief executive officers (CEOs) influence international strategic choices. We conceptualize the relationship between CEO dark triad personality traits and born global internationalization. The premise is that dark triad CEOs may benefit firms by hastening the pace of internationalization. Firms led by dark triad CEOs are likely to pursue early and rapid internationalization (born global) through a blend of exploration, exploitation, and reconfiguration activities, deviating from the traditional, incremental approach (the Uppsala model) to international expansion.