Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Growth for Women Entrepreneurs in the Global South

Women entrepreneurs in the Global South are a powerful force for economic growth and social progress. By dismantling barriers and providing them with the tools they need to thrive, we can unlock their potential to transform communities, empower women, and build a more equitable and sustainable future. However, conventional economic thinking often perceives entrepreneurship as gender-neutral, depicting entrepreneurs as rational, self-interested individuals detached from any sex, gender, class, age, family, religion, or ethnic context. This gender-neutral stance neglects the unique barriers and hardships faced by women entrepreneurs, potentially hindering their participation and contribution to socioeconomic development. By exclusively focusing on market dynamics, financial matters, and management concerns, mainstream economic thinkers overlook crucial attributes and roles associated with women.

The book presents a paradigm shift, redefining entrepreneurship as a vehicle for social change and inclusion. It emphasizes the importance of a gender-responsive approach, advocating for targeted support systems that address the specific needs and challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in the Global South. The research tackles diverse themes and topics, emphasizing the importance of a gender-responsive approach, incorporating qualitative research, and recognizing the intersectionality of gender with other factors like migration and violence.

The International Studies in Small Business and Entrepreneurship Research series opens a new chapter, as it seeks to advance discussions that consolidate conventional knowledge. The purpose of this initiative is to invite new reflections on the nature of entrepreneurship and small business across contexts. The collections in this series aim to improve the theoretical rigour and practical relevance of the field. The emphasis is to advance contemporary contributions that matter for small business and entrepreneurship, directing us to underexplored and under-theorised contexts.

Bridget Nneka Irene is an award-winning researcher whose work explores the intersections of entrepreneurship, intersectionality, legitimacy, and decolonial methodologies. With a PhD from Cardiff Metropolitan University, she draws on over 15 years of industry experience and a decade in academia to critically examine enterprise in the Global South. Her research centres on amplifying marginalised voices, particularly women and minority entrepreneurs, within innovation and sustainability discourse. Dr Irene leads several international research collaborations and is editor of multiple volumes on inclusive and decolonial approaches to entrepreneurship and development.

Joan Lockyer is a Professor of Entrepreneurship, consultant and independent researcher. Her research interests focus on the transformative effect of entrepreneurship through education especially for disadvantaged groups. She is specifically interested in the interplay between policy, innovation and leadership.

Palesa Charlotte Felix-Faure (PhD) is Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at IDRAC Business School, France, and Associate Researcher at both CERAG – Université Grenoble Alpes and the FERE Chair – Grenoble Ecole de Management. She is a former Visiting Professor at Leuphana University, Germany, and a member of CREE, the French network of researchers in entrepreneurship education. She also serves as Director and Board Member of the International Social Capital Association, Founder of the Inclusive Entrepreneurship Academy in South Africa, and a Founding Executive Member of the Women Research Network. With over 15 years of entrepreneurial experience, she founded ITU Espace Design, an interior and fashion design concept store based in France, promoting sustainable entrepreneurship in South African townships. Her work has been featured in Marie Claire Maison, Elle Deco, and Art & Décoration. Her research focuses on inclusive entrepreneurship, institutional theory, and decolonial approaches to entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Chioma Masi Onoshakpor is a lecturer in management and entrepreneurship at Robert Gordon University, UK. She is an experienced entrepreneur, and an accomplished non-profit female advocate leader with ten (10) years of experience in helping female entrepreneurs scale their businesses in Africa.

Dina Modestus Nziku (PhD) is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at the University of the West of Scotland, UK. Her research focuses on women’s entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship policy and strategies for promoting entrepreneurship in developing countries. She has published in academic journals, books, and book chapters, as well as edited scientific research books and professional reports. Dr Nziku has presented her research work on women entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) at the United Nations (UNCTAD), and forcibly displaced refugee women entrepreneurs at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), as well as other national and international conferences.

James Okrah is an independent researcher and former visiting scholar at the Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Studies (IOS) at the University of Regensburg, Germany. He is a distinguished Ph.D. graduate from Ural Federal University, Russia and specializes in the dynamic intersection of institutions and innovation within his research endeavours. Since 2016, he has actively contributed as a research fellow, demonstrating exceptional leadership and expertise. His scholarly impact is evident through his role as the primary author of numerous influential articles, showcasing his profound insights and dedication to advancing knowledge in his field.