Women Entrepreneurs and SMEs in the Global South From Barriers to Breakthroughs

Part I: Foundations and Future of Women‑Led SMEs

1. Introduction: From Barriers to Breakthroughs

Patty Zakaria and Janki Shah

2. Future Female Entrepreneurs of the Global South: Exploring the Attitudes and Intentions of Young Women in South Africa

Tarisai Fritz Rukuni, Tinashe Chuchu and Thapelo Mndaweni

3. Motivational Dynamics of Emirati Women Entrepreneurs: An Integration of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Drivers

Hasnan Baber and Agnel Rose Thomas

Part II: Structural and Cultural Barriers

4. Invisible Barriers: The Role of Gender Norms in Shaping Enterprise Outcomes for Women

Soumi Bose and Shreya Biswas

5. Women Entrepreneurs in Morocco: Peculiarities and Perspectives

Sara Poggesi and Michela Mari

6. Breaking the Mould: Understanding the Sociocultural Barriers for Women in Family Businesses in the Global South

Ria Sidhu

7. Making Space Abroad: Experiences of Sri Lankan Women Exporters in Entering and Sustaining Foreign Markets

Ruwaiha Razik and Arosha Adikaram

8. The Invisible Wall and Silent Stare: Social and Cultural Norms and Women's Psychological Health in Malaysia

Siti Khadijah Zainal Badri and Noor Aslinda Abu Seman

9. Women Refugee Entrepreneurship in the Global South: An Institutional Voids Perspective

Salma Soliman

Part III: Innovation and Opportunity in a Digital Age

10. Bridging the Digital Divide: Empowering Women-Led SMEs through Technology, AI, and Innovation

Mojgan Zarghamifard

11. Bridging the Digital Gender Gap in the Global South: A Systematic Review of Women’s Enterprise and Technology

Umi Kartini Rashid, Dzunnur Zaily Mohd Dzulkifli and Noor Aslinda Abu Seman

12. Unveiling Challenges and Opportunities for Female Entrepreneurs in an Era of Digital Transformation: A Social Identity Perspective

Sana Mumtaz

13. Exploring Business Model Innovations in Women-Led SMEs: Cases from Sri Lanka

Kumudinei Dissanayake

Part IV: Finance, Sustainability, and Policy Solutions

14. Financial Barriers and Solutions for Women-Led SMEs in the Global South: A Systematic Literature Review

Noor Aslinda Abu Seman, Siti Khadijah Zainal Badri and Umi Kartini Rashid

15. Analysing the Impact of Digital Divide and Financial Inclusion on Women-Led SMEs: A Panel Data Study

Rajesh Mamilla

16. Gender-Inclusive Innovation: How Women-Led SMEs Are Driving Sustainable Development in the Global South

Shahnaz Hamid

17. Ethical Innovation and Relational Leadership: Carolina’s Agruppa and the Feminist Politics of Everyday Entrepreneurship

Barbara Gabriella Renzi and Kaddour Chelabi

18. Women’s Economic Empowerment in Conflict and Post-Conflict Societies: Evidence from Georgia and Ukraine

Zarina Burkadze

Part V: Conclusion and Future Directions

19. Conclusion: Toward an Inclusive Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for Women in the Global South

Patty Zakaria and Janki Shah

Biography

Patty Zakaria is Associate Professor of Data Analytics at the University of Niagara Falls, Canada.

Janki Shah is Associate Professor at Westcliff University, a Sessional Faculty member at University Canada West, Canada, and an independent scholar.