Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Kish International Campus, Tehran University
2 Kish International Campus, University of Tehran
Abstract
Introduction:
In recent years, women entrepreneurship has emerged as one of the growing phenomena in the global economy, playing a significant role in economic development, job creation, and poverty reduction. Despite these advancements, female entrepreneurs still face numerous challenges, such as limited access to capital, fewer networking opportunities, gender biases, and societal expectations. These challenges have created substantial barriers to the entrepreneurial success and personal growth of women. Despite the notable contribution of women to the economy, existing entrepreneurial frameworks are generally gender-neutral and fail to address the specific needs of female entrepreneurs adequately. Given the importance of gender equality as one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, this study aims to design a comprehensive, theory-based framework for empowering women entrepreneurs and enhancing their professional success and personal growth. The proposed framework is specifically designed to address the unique challenges faced by female entrepreneurs and pave the way for personal excellence and business success.
Methodology:
This research is developmental - applied and adopts a qualitative approach. To explore the lived experiences of female entrepreneurs in-depth, narrative inquiry was employed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with eight Iranian female entrepreneurs, and the narratives were analyzed to extract concepts and patterns related to entrepreneurial success and personal growth. The data analysis process followed three stages: open, axial, and selective coding, using MAXQDA software. To ensure the validity and reliability of the data, the interview protocol was revised based on expert feedback, and the inter-rater reliability coefficient for the coding process was 0.77, indicating acceptable reliability. Participants were selected purposefully, and the interviews continued until theoretical saturation was reached. Ultimately the theoretical framework was developed by integrating the main and sub - categories.
Findings:
Based on the qualitative analysis of the semi-structured interviews and using open, axial, and selective coding, a conceptual framework was developed to explain entrepreneurial success and personal growth among Iranian women entrepreneurs. The findings led to the identification of six main categories. The first category, "Personal Skills and Abilities," includes four subcategories: cognitive skills (creative thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, strategic thinking, and continuous learning), communication skills (negotiation, effective customer communication, leadership, and team-building), personality traits (self-confidence, perseverance, patience, flexibility, responsibility, resilience, motivation, and the ability to balance work and life), and management skills (time management, crisis management, delegation, prioritization, and financial management). The second category, "Business Success," focuses on two essential dimensions: innovation and creativity (including innovative idea generation and continuous creative development) and business management (including financial management, the use of modern technologies, and network expansion). The third category, "Personal Growth and Excellence," refers to factors such as strengthening individual mindsets and beliefs, setting clear boundaries between work and personal life, adapting to environmental changes, and maintaining mental and physical well-being. The fourth category, "Factors Affecting Entrepreneurial Success and Personal Growth," is classified into two levels: environmental factors (access to financial resources, technology, networks, entrepreneurial culture, technical infrastructure, family and community support, legal support, and government support) and individual factors (risk-taking, passion for work, and building strong teams). The fifth category, "Outcomes of Entrepreneurial Success and Personal Growth," is identified at three levels: individual (increased self-esteem and self-confidence, improved quality of life, enhanced creativity and innovation, and strengthened leadership skills), organizational (growth and development of the business, product and service portfolio expansion, and market share increase), and social (economic growth, sustainable job creation, social development, local production, and export expansion). Finally, the sixth category, "Intervening Conditions," includes technological changes, environmental crises (such as the COVID-19 pandemic), regulatory transformations, social and cultural factors, market competition, and societal attitudes, which can act as facilitating or hindering factors in the process of entrepreneurial success and personal growth. The conceptual framework developed in this study provides a comprehensive, dynamic, and multidimensional view of various aspects of entrepreneurial success and personal growth among female entrepreneurs, and it can serve as a foundation for future studies, the development of supportive policies, and the design of programs to enhance women’s entrepreneurship.
Conclusion
This study aimed to design a framework for entrepreneurial success and personal growth among female entrepreneurs. The findings revealed that the success of female entrepreneurs depends not only on their personal skills but also on a range of environmental and supportive factors. This research emphasizes the importance of personal skills, including cognitive, communication, personality, and management skills, highlighting that these skills, especially in combination with personality traits like self-confidence and perseverance, play a key role in the success of female entrepreneurs. Additionally, environmental factors such as access to financial resources, legal and governmental support, and access to modern technologies significantly influence the success of women-owned businesses. The findings also underscore the importance of social and familial support in women’s entrepreneurial success, particularly in societies where social and cultural barriers exist for women. This study specifically analyzed the complex interactions between individual and environmental factors, showing that the success of women entrepreneurship is an interactive process where various factors simultaneously influence one another. Therefore, designing a comprehensive framework for entrepreneurial success and personal growth can serve as a vital tool for policymakers, consultants, and the entrepreneurs themselves. This framework not only identifies the needs and challenges faced by female entrepreneurs but also offers practical solutions to overcome these challenges and facilitate their success. Especially in societies where women face cultural, economic, and social barriers, this framework could provide strategies for improving business conditions and strengthening supportive environments. However, the study has limitations that should be considered when interpreting the results and generalizing them to other communities and cultures. One of the main limitations is the use of narrative inquiry methodology, which, due to the nature of individual experiences, may be influenced by personal biases. Therefore, it is recommended that future research combine qualitative and quantitative methods to enable comparison and generalizability of results. Furthermore, because this study focused on female entrepreneurs in Iran, the social and cultural conditions of this country may differ from those in other societies; therefore, future research could explore this framework in different communities and cultures and assess its applicability.
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