Title: Successful women entrepreneurs: a six-country analysis of self-reported determinants of success – more than just dollars and cents

Authors: Martha A. Reavley, Terri R. Lituchy

Addresses: Odette School of Business, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON, N9B 3P4, Canada. ' John Molson School of Business, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd West, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada

Abstract: In this qualitative six-country analysis, we present self-reported definitions and determinants of success among female entrepreneurs in Canada, Ireland, Czech Republic, Poland and Japan. The women became entrepreneurs because they felt rejected: the |push factor|. While some women defined success in terms of profits, many used non-financial factors such as number of clients, number of employees, years in business, or because |my peers say so|. The most important success factor was networking. Business education and training was second. Country differences are reported and the significance for new and established women entrepreneurs and the institutions supporting their efforts are discussed.

Keywords: successful entrepreneurs; women entrepreneurs; female entrepreneurs; entrepreneurship; Canada; Japan; Northern Ireland; Republic of Ireland; Czech Republic; Poland; networking; business education; training.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2008.017304

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2008 Vol.5 No.3/4, pp.272 - 296

Published online: 24 Feb 2008 *

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