Abstract

In the first decades of the twentieth century, the Norwegian Roald Amundsen racked up an unmatched resume of successes in polar exploration, leading the first successful navigation of the fabled Northwest Passage and the expeditions to reach the South and North Poles. This case study examines how Amundsen was able to do so despite having none of the financial or institutional support of his British rivals. The case reveals a number of insights on entrepreneurial leadership in a highly variable and volatile context composed of both social and environmental challenges.