Uncovering the Motives and Essentials of Nascent Women Entrepreneurs

The aim of this article is to delve into women entrepreneurs’ motivations and perceptions of what is needed to achieve entrepreneurial success. Through semi-structured interviews, we found that most participants reported multiple reasons for wanting to be an entrepreneur; these motives were categorized as external and internal. Results also show what attributes and actions these women believe are critical to success. Our study contributes to the field by employing a qualitative design that uncovered the richness and diversity of women’s experiences in becoming business owners. The findings have implications for policymakers and organizations seeking to advance women entrepreneurship.