Mentoring as a Pathway to Active Aging for Retired Entrepreneurs: Evidence from Croatia
Mentoring as a Pathway to Active Aging for Retired Entrepreneurs: Evidence from Croatia

Author(s): Mirela Alpeza
Subject(s): Business Economy / Management, Sociology, Gerontology, Human Resources in Economy
Published by: Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku, Ekonomski fakultet u Osijeku
Keywords: active aging; retired entrepreneurs; mentoring; entrepreneurial ecosystems;
Summary/Abstract: Population aging is reshaping European societies and prompting a growing policy focusing on active aging and the continued engagement of older adults. While the Active Aging Index (AAI) highlights the importance of social participation and voluntary contributions in later life, the specific case of retired entrepreneurs remains underexplored. Entrepreneurs represent a distinct professional group whose identities are often closely intertwined with their ventures, making retirement a particularly complex transition. This study examines active aging among retired entrepreneurs in Croatia through the case of SENTOR (Senior Entrepreneurs’ Club), an NGO established in 2022 that engages retired entrepreneurs as pro bono mentors to younger business owners. The empirical analysis is based on application questionnaires completed by 35 retired entrepreneurs who applied to join the program. The study combines descriptive profiling with qualitative content analysis of open-ended responses concerning motivations and areas of mentoring engagement. The findings indicate that retired entrepreneurs possess extensive professional experience, diverse sectoral expertise, and strong educational backgrounds, positioning them as valuable contributors to entrepreneurial ecosystems. Their motivations for participating in mentoring are primarily to transfer knowledge and experience, contribute to the development of the entrepreneurial environment, maintain meaningful engagement after retirement, and continue learning through interaction with younger entrepreneurs. The results suggest that structured mentoring initiatives, such as SENTOR, provide an institutional mechanism for transforming entrepreneurial retirement into active aging. By mobilizing the experience of retired entrepreneurs to benefit younger generations, such initiatives may strengthen social participation indicators within the Active Aging Index framework while supporting entrepreneurial ecosystem development.

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