Women entrepreneurial leaders as harbingers of economic growth: evidences from an emerging market of South Asia

Abstract

Global economy is driven by entrepreneurs operating micro, small, medium, and large-scale enterprises (M-SMLEs). This probe integrates three distinct domains, entrepreneurship, leadership, and gender, particularly women. In a previous study, one of the co-authors investigated such phenomenon that comprised motivations and pre-and-post venture challenges for women entrepreneurial leaders and devised a conceptual framework. This inquiry applies quantitative methods to empirically test and validate such framework, and contribute towards pertinent theoretical underpinning. It avails post-positivism philosophy, deductive approach, and survey method. Data was garnered from women entrepreneurial leaders of Pakistan -a growing emerging market of South Asia. The sample size includes 308 samples (comprising micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (M-SMEs), 100+ participants from each category. The capabilities, circumstances, and behavior of M-SMEs differ than those of such leaders from large-scale enterprises; therefore, they were ignored purposefully. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) technique was availed for data analysis. Canons of reliability, validity, and triangulation assisted toward robust results. The findings reveal that motivation to become entrepreneur and need of situation appeared the most significant predictors for starting and leading a venture by women. In challenges before the start of business (discouragement from family and gender stereotypes, financial challenges, lack of entrepreneurial knowledge, and lack of access to market and workplace [in a male-dominated society]) appeared significant predictors in order. And in challenges after the start of business (lack of market research, lack of finance and sustainability, harassment from men, and gender stereotypes from employees) respectively appeared significant predictors of women entrepreneurial leadership.

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“…Using Amos software, structured equation modelling (SEM) was availed to test the hypotheses. Through data normality test, it was learnt that Skewness and Kurtosis stood in the prescribed ranges of ±1.5, which confirmed normality of constructs (Byrne, 2013;Hair et al, 2015). In factor loadings, few items with loading up to .5 and insignificant T values below 1.96 values were excluded, and items with loading of .7 and significant T values up to or greater than 1.96 were taken for further testing.…”

“…A study in Malaysia emphasized the significance of religious values such as honesty and need to fulfill obligations (Makhbul & Hasun, 2011). Zulkifli and Rosli (2013) asserted that religiosity has a moderating role in the entrepreneurial success. It can be concluded that there is not a single factor but rather, a combination of factors that contribute to the success of entrepreneurial venture (Thien, 2016).…”

“…Another front burner issue in the way of female entrepreneurs is about financial challenges (Giardino et al, 2015;Marlow & Patton, 2005;Salamzadeh & Kawamorita-Kesim, 2015). Women belonging to lower and middle classes (so-called bottom of the pyramid [BOP] strata of the society) face stiff problem of access to finance (Brush et al, 2018;Realini & Mehta, 2015).…”

Factors Affecting the Success of Women Entrepreneurs in Egypt

“…Several scholars concurred that more research is necessary to fully understand the circumstances of effective female entrepreneurial leadership in various situations and environments (Dean & Ford, 2017;Dunn et al, 2014;Harrison et al, 2015;Matsa & Miller, 2014). Scholars emphasized the research gap to further discover entrepreneurial leadership regarding women leaders (Dean & Ford, 2017;Kimbu et al, 2021;Santos & Neumeyer, 2021, Qureshi et al, 2021.…”

“…In addition, researchers identified recent changes in female entrepreneurship and its relationship to leadership (Dean & Ford, 2017). Women have been actively engaged in practically every field and industry, and their involvement in politics and business appears to be increasing (Hoyt & Murphy, 2016;Qureshi et al, 2021).…”