Individual Factors, Facilitating Conditions and Career Success: Insights from Malaysian Female Entrepreneurs

Abstract

The involvement of female entrepreneurs in the growth of a nation’s economy is an important subject. Despite various opportunities as well as structural and policy financing and support to launch and run businesses, women still face challenges that hamper their chances of success. Therefore, a study was conducted to examine the individual factors and facilitating conditions that have led to female entrepreneurs’ career success. A survey instrument was formulated through questionnaires to obtain feedback from female entrepreneurs in Malaysia. The findings showed that entrepreneur competence, commitment, goal, and knowledge are related to female entrepreneurs’ career success. While human capital was found to be an insignificant factor in determining female entrepreneurs’ career success, the goal was discovered to be the most salient factor that determines a female entrepreneur’s chances of career success. The findings have important practical implications for managers and leaders who wish to motivate their employees to achieve their career milestones. This paper sheds some light on female entrepreneurship in developed economies and recommends further research on female entrepreneurship.