How Do Women Entrepreneurs Define Success? A Qualitative Study of Differences Among Women Entrepreneurs in Ethiopia

Atsede Tesfaye Hailemariam and Brigitte Kroon
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Atsede Tesfaye Hailemariam: Tilburg University, The Netherlands and Addis Ababa University – School of Commerce, Ethiopia
Brigitte Kroon: Tilburg University, The Netherlands

No 2014/09, Working Papers from Maastricht School of Management

Abstract: This paper describes how women entrepreneurs in Ethiopia define success in their own terms. Semi structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 24 women entrepreneurs from various sectors in Addis Ababa. The interview formats allowed the women to tell their life history and define success in their own terms. A common stereotype is that women entrepreneurs in Ethiopia operate businesses out of necessity and therefore women measure success in terms of financial rewards than personal rewards. Despite this stereotype, the findings of this study show that differences in definition of success exist among group of women entrepreneurs. Differences are in background characteristics, socialization experiences, learning experiences and reasons for starting business. The results of the study show women entrepreneurs define their success in various ways including, financial gains, growth, personal fulfillment, helping others, social contribution among others play a role here. Further, based on the findings an attempt has been made to identify different groups of women entrepreneurs in Ethiopia suggesting women entrepreneurs in Ethiopia are not a homogeneous group.

Pages: 24 pages
Date: 2014-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr, nep-ent and nep-hme
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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