Entrepreneurs as influencers: The role of female entrepreneurs in small business development
基于28位女性小型企业家的访谈，运用扎根理论方法，揭示了她们在小型企业发展中面临的因素、障碍和机遇，以及她们对后来者的影响力，为政策制定者促进女性主导的小型企业提供了参考。
Despite traditional conservatism, women are advancing in entrepreneurship, particularly in the small business sector—micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). With a shifting government perspective favoring female entrepreneurship, women are becoming significant economic contributors. This study uses a Gioia-based grounded theory approach to qualitatively examine themes from participants’ responses. Data were collected from female entrepreneurs in small businesses—MSMEs—in different cities using representative sampling to ensure diversity. Themes from 28 female MSME entrepreneurs corresponded with Ansoff’s growth matrix and transformational leadership theories. Their insights shed light on the factors, obstacles, and opportunities emerging female entrepreneurs face in smaller businesses, emphasizing their influence on those who aspire to follow in their footsteps. These findings help policymakers promote female-led small businesses and increase female entrepreneurs’ economic contributions.