Description
Book SynopsisWomen's entrepreneurship is vital for economic and social development, yet female entrepreneurs worldwide are consistently found to have weaker sales and employment growth, fewer jobs, and lower profitability. This book was written to address this reality and focuses on the high-growth potential of women entrepreneurs.
The scholars in this book conducted qualitative as well as quantitative research in contexts around the world, including Eswatini (Swaziland), Australia, China, Slovenia, Peru, and one global study of 43 countries. Chapters are organized according to three key themes: the practice of building networks, programs and the support environment, and policies and regulations. Topics addressed within these themes include the interconnected and mutually reinforcing features of a fruitful entrepreneurial culture, including financial and human capital advancement and readiness, new opportunities for expansion and an assortment of institutional and infrastructural provisions for innovation and business growth.
High-growth Women's Entrepreneurship will appeal to public and private sector managers, policy makers and politicians who want to promote a culture and ecosystem that supports women's growth-oriented business potential. Educators and program designers who want to help women grow their businesses, and scholars who want to explore further research will find the information invaluable.
Contributors include: N. Birdthistle, C.J. Boudreaux, Z. Brixiová, C.G. Brush, A. Bullough, D. Cetindamar, M. Córdova, L.F. Edelman, R. Eversole, B. Freser, V. Godinho, D. Hechavarría, F. Huamán, E. James, T. Kangoye, T. Lammers, Y. Li, S. Muhammad, B. Nikolaev, A. Pearce, K. Sirec, E. Sullivan, P. Tominc, M. Walo, J. Wu
Trade Review'Despite the surge of interest in women's entrepreneurship around the globe, very little attention and support is currently directed towards high-potential women's entrepreneurship. These talented entrepreneurs face many of the constraints that women micropreneurs and small business owners struggle with, but they are running business that demand even greater access to the resources required for scale, in business circles and industries where women are severely underrepresented. This edited volume provides important research evidence to guide researchers, policymakers, program leaders and investors on how best to spend dollars in support of women starting and growing high potential ventures. A must-read! --Amanda B. Elam, Babson College, US
'This latest book from the Diana Project network frames a long delayed, much needed, and deliberatively provocative discussion about the relationship between growth-oriented women entrepreneurs and public policy and regulatory frameworks, building networks, and the entrepreneurship support environment. The primary question is whether they help or hurt. The editors and contributors represent all the continents (except Antarctica!) to bring a truly global and thoughtful consideration to what we know, and what we still need to learn.'
--Patricia Greene, Professor Emeritus, Babson College, US
'High-growth Women's Entrepreneurship represents a valuable addition to the emerging body of research on women's entrepreneurship public policy. This book provides a global perspective on programs, policies and practices by incorporating chapters representing the experience of growth-oriented women entrepreneurs in both developed and developing economies. Each chapter provides valuable ''lessons learned'' that can be shared across geographic boundaries. These, in turn, form the basis for policy recommendations designed to foster innovation and growth among women entrepreneurs. This book is a true gem, and merits multiple reads to fully capture the insights offered by its editors and contributors.'
--Susan Coleman, University of Hartford, US
Table of ContentsContents 1 Introduction: programs, policies and practices: fostering high-growth women’s entrepreneurship 1 Amanda Bullough, Diana M. Hechavarría, Candida G. Brush and Linda F. Edelman 2 Networks, start-up capital and women’s entrepreneurial performance in Africa: evidence from Eswatini 13 Zuzana Brixiová and Thierry Kangoye 3 Absence of opportunities can enhance women’s high-growth entrepreneurship: empirical evidence from Peru 32 Miguel Córdova and Fátima Huamán 4 Towards a typology of supports for enterprising women: a comparison of rural and urban Australian regions 52 Robyn Eversole, Naomi Birdthistle, Megerssa Walo and Vinita Godinho 5 STEM education and women entrepreneurs in technology enterprises: explorations from Australia 78 Dilek Cetindamar, Elayn James, Thorsten Lammers, Alicia Pearce and Elizabeth Sullivan 6 Exploring gender differences in entrepreneurship: how the regulatory environment mitigates differences in early-stage growth aspirations 109 Christopher J. Boudreaux and Boris Nikolaev 7 Gender gap in perceived financing opportunities for high-growth enterprises 133 Blaž Frešer, Karin Širec and Polona Tominc vi High-growth women’s entrepreneurship 8 Women’s awareness of financial policy and their debt financing activities: evidence from China 160 Juan Wu, Yaokuang Li and Shakeel Muhammad 9 Where do we go from here? Summary of findings 183 Amanda Bullough, Diana M. Hechavarría, Candida G. Brush and Linda F. Edelman Index 195
