240 Int. J. Teaching and Case Studies, Vol. 14, No. 3, 2024 Copyright © 2024 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. “Somehow I made it a force”. How a disabled entrepreneur leveraged his self-identity in the workplace as a competitive advantage? Catherine Lejealle* and Julien Billion ISC Paris, 22 Boulevard du Fort de Vaux, 75017 Paris, France Email: clejealle@iscparis.com Email: jbillion@iscparis.com *Corresponding author Abstract: This case study delves into the achievements of Medhi, a disabled entrepreneur who has defied the odds to succeed. In 2022, driven by the desire to empower others, Medhi sought to comprehend the key factors contributing to his own success. This investigation primarily centres on the effectual decision-making processes employed by the disabled entrepreneur, as well as the development of his self-identity within the workplace. This case study highlights how a disabled entrepreneur can transform his disability into a competitive advantage through the shrewd management of his self-identity. By exhibiting flexibility in how his self-identity is perceived across varying contexts, Medhi adeptly navigates these dimensions. He strategically chooses when to disclose or conceal his disability, thus leveraging it to his advantage. The findings of this research offer practical and social implications for entrepreneurs who diverge from the conventional able-bodied archetype. Keywords: entrepreneurship; effectuation theory; disability; resources; self-identity at work. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Lejealle, C. and Billion, J. (2024) ‘“Somehow I made it a force”. How a disabled entrepreneur leveraged his self-identity in the workplace as a competitive advantage?’, Int. J. Teaching and Case Studies, Vol. 14, No. 3, pp.240–255. Biographical notes: Catherine Lejealle holds a PhD in Sociology (Paris Sorbonne University). As a Professor and researcher at ISC, her field of interests are adoption of innovative technologies from consumers and brands. She is the author of peer-to-peer research articles and books in journal such as Journal of Consumer Behavior, Innovation2, and Journal of Knowledge Management. Julien Billion holds a PhD in Sociology (EHESS), PhD in Management Sciences (Institut Polytechnique de Paris), and Habilitation in Management Sciences (Institut Polytechnique de Paris). As a Professor and researcher at ISC, he specialises in the areas of social innovation and social entrepreneurship. He is the author of articles, books, and documentaries in these fields. Notably, his work has been published in reviews such as the Journal of Business Ethics, Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, and Management International.