Seray Begüm Samur-Teraman

Biography

I am a Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Course Lead for the BSc Business and Entrepreneurship programme.

I can also define myself as an academic, business development mentor, and ecosystem builder with extensive experience in entrepreneurship, strategy, and research-informed teaching. I bring a unique blend of academic rigour and hands-on ecosystem engagement, integrating real-world challenges, experiential learning, and mentoring into my teaching practice. My work spans inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems, entrepreneurial support mechanisms —mainly startup/SMEs mentoring, and applied research — with a strong commitment to empowering learners and supporting venture growth in various country contexts.

Academic expertise

I specialise in entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly in the relational dynamics of entrepreneurial ecosystems, the role of entrepreneurial support mechanisms (such as startup mentoring), innovative work behaviours, and the innovative orientation of companies. Additionally, my research expertise encompasses women's entrepreneurship and migrant entrepreneurs/startups, with a focus on relational and institutional dimensions. My methodological expertise covers qualitative and mixed-methods research, data analysis using CAQDAS (Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software) tools, and the design of research instruments. Through both academic and practitioner roles, I have mentored startups and SMEs, contributed to their innovative capacity-building initiatives, and collaborated with ecosystem stakeholders.

Before joining BCU, I worked as an Assistant Professor in various institutions, where I designed and led entrepreneurship curricula, coordinated mobility programmes, and mentored students through pre-incubation and incubation stages. I completed a fully funded post-doctoral research fellowship at BCU, funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), where I researched Grounded Dynamism in Nascent Entrepreneurial Ecosystems.Over the years, I have taught undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral-level modules across entrepreneurship, innovation, strategic management, and research methods.

Former students

My students have pursued careers as entrepreneurs, innovation specialists, business analysts, and consultants. Many have started their own ventures or joined startup teams, while others have progressed into postgraduate study, having research fellow roles. They have also taken up roles in ecosystem gatekeepers, contributing to incubation, acceleration, and capacity-building initiatives.

Notable projects

I am currently leading an interdisciplinary research project on MIGRANT MUMPRENEURS, exploring how women navigate entrepreneurship while balancing migration and motherhood-related challenges.This project integrates perspectives from entrepreneurship, psychology, and migration studies, aiming to support inclusivity. As part of this project, I contributed to a Women's Collective initiative to empower women entrepreneurs and stimulate their creative thinking abilities with a hands-on SCAMPER Workshop. Besides workshops and other stakeholder engagement events, I am working extensively on the dark side of entrepreneurial mentoring and inhibitors within ecosystem relational dynamics. 

My practical and academic pursuits are dedicated to building thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems, with a particular focus on uncovering hidden meanings, unspoken dynamics, and the aspects of ecosystem life that are often overlooked or rarely discussed. I actively seek to understand the subtle relational, emotional, and structural forces that shape entrepreneurial behaviour.