Women entrepreneurs: ‘we cannot have change unless we have men in the room’

Abstract

What is being done to support female entrepreneurship and in particular promote the ways in which information and communication technologies (ICTs) can encourage and facilitate it? Is today's business climate more inviting to women entrepreneurs? Are women equipped to thrive in this digital age? Current, future, and aspiring women entrepreneurs responded to these questions, and many more, at the recent European conference in Athens, Greece 'More Technologies? More Women entrepreneurs!' at which Madi Sharma, member of the European Economic and Social Committee argued that 'we cannot have change unless we have men in the room.' The European conference showed women -and men -the advantages and opportunities that ICTs can offer them for the development of their business initiatives. It also presented 12 European projects that focus on women's entrepreneurship and how ICT facilitates and fosters it. The European Commission is dynamically promoting, supporting, and encouraging female entrepreneurship. Europe needs more women entrepreneurs and actions are being taken to overcome the obstacles and change mindsets. This paper examines discussions and research on female entrepreneurial activity and provides Tips from successful women entrepreneurs who tell how they have been using new technologies -and social media in particular -to excel in their careers and balance their professional and family lives. Accordingly, this paper begins with an examination of the current research findings on social women's new models of work, levels of engagement, and transformational leadership styles. Women share content in multiple ways, and working online has been a financial windfall for many, including stay-at-home moms and homemakers. More women are doing what comes 'naturally', taking advantage of their so-called natural strengths, such as 'listening', sharing, building relationships, and creating a culture of collaboration.

The Differences in the Importance of Certain Aspects of Business Success for Female Entrepreneurs of Different Age and Education

“…Moreover, all aspects of business success that are related to the qualitative dimension of the business success have higher mean scores compared to the mean scores of the variables that are loaded in the quantitative dimension of the business success, in each of the analyzed educational groups (for all levels and for all fields of education). This confirms the opinion that the female entrepreneurs' perception of the business success and related business goals is a complex phenomenon with the dominance of the qualitative, less objective measures such as relationships, satisfaction, workfamily balance (Coleman and Robb, 2009;Jome et al, 2006;Kamberidou, 2013 …”

21st Century Challenges Confronting Women Entrepreneurs in Southwest Nigeria

“…Governments have identified women's importance to entrepreneurship, and consequently make available many programs to grow women entrepreneurship (Vossenberg, 2013). Women entrepreneurs have a significant effect on the economy as they not only create employment for themselves but also for other people (Kamberidou, 2013). Up and coming literature recommends that women can play a significant role in the larger entrepreneurship phenomenon and economic development (Sarfaraz, Faghih, & Majd, 2014).…”

Factors Motivating Young South African Women to Become Entrepreneurs

“…There is the increasing feminisation of poverty in South Africa (Shisana et al 2010). Entrepreneurship is one of the solutions to female unemployment and poverty (Kamberidou, 2013). Buttner & Moore (1997) defines a female entrepreneur as "a woman who has initiated a business, is actively involved in managing it, owns at least 50 percent of the firm, and that the business has been in operation one year or longer".…”

“…Mitchelmore and Rowley (2013) point out that in 2010, 104 million women in 59 economies representing more than 52 per cent of the world's population and 84 per cent of world GDP embarked on new venture creation and development. Kamberidou (2013) points out that women-owned businesses make an increasingly important contribution to economies. Women entrepreneurs have a significant impact on the economy not only in their ability to create jobs for themselves, but also in creating jobs for others.…”

“…Governments across the world have recognized that the key to building prosperity is to foster entrepreneurship among their people especially the youth. Kamberidou (2013) argue that women-owned businesses make an increasingly important contribution to economies. Women entrepreneurs make a significant impact on the economy not only in their ability to create jobs for themselves, but also in creating jobs for others.…”