Facilitating women entrepreneurship in Canada: the case of WEKH

Cukier, Wendy; Chavoushi, Zohreh Hassannezhad

doi:10.1108/gm-11-2019-0204

Cited by 28 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…Canada's response sustaining the (in)visibility of women entrepreneurs Canada has responded quickly to provide supports to a diverse range of citizens, SMEs and entrepreneurs who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (Osler, 2020). WEKH is a network of ten regional hubs across the country, bringing together academics and practitioners, as part of Canada's Government WES and is committed to strengthening the ecosystem by evidence based approaches to best practices, as well as applying a gender and intersectionality lens to "reveal" and "expose" the normative practices and discourses enveloping women's entrepreneurship in Canada (Cukier and Hassannezhad Chavoushi, 2020;Neville et al, 2018;Ozbilgin, 2009). WEKH has been sharing information with its network on the new programs launched by the Government of Canada and collecting feedback from stakeholders to assess the needs of diverse women entrepreneurs.…”

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confidence: 99%

(In)visibility in the margins: COVID-19, women entrepreneurs and the need for inclusive recovery

Grandy

Cukier

Gagnon

2020

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Purpose This paper aims to extend Lewis and Simpson’s (2010) work on the complexity of (in)visibility and explores what it means to women’s entrepreneurship in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach This piece contributes to the special issue on COVID-19 and the impact on women entrepreneurs. Specifically, it applies an (in)visibility lens to argue that responses to COVID-19 in Canada negatively affect women entrepreneurs disproportionately and that while initiatives such as the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) are threatened, they can also serve as an agitator during this time to advocate for an inclusive recovery approach. Findings Despite progress through such government funded initiatives as the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES), which is targeting more than $2bn (Cdn) in investments towards women entrepreneurs, structural inequality and the (in)visibility of women’s entrepreneurship has been amplified during COVID-19. Through a particular understanding of the (in)visibility vortex notion (Lewis and Simpson, 2010), it is concluded the (in)visibility of women entrepreneurs as deeply embedded and that there is a continued need to advocate for a gender and diversity lens, to ensure inclusive recovery that benefits women and diverse entrepreneurs. Originality/value An (in)visibility lens brings an important addition to the literature on women’s entrepreneurship, as well as illuminates the important differences within this broad category, deepening the understanding of these trends and their impact during COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights how the complexities of intersectionality are critical to understand, and their recognition can help to drive a clear evidence base, as well as advocacy. The piece call researchers and practitioners alike to consider the question under COVID-19, will these conditions create a new vortex in this domain, or can the work of organizations and researchers position gender and intersectionality in women entrepreneurship as a disrupter for the future?

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confidence: 99%

(In)visibility in the margins: COVID-19, women entrepreneurs and the need for inclusive recovery

Grandy

Cukier

Gagnon

2020

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“…The research findings imply that government should play a more important role to provide a supportive environment for RIWEs to compete with other well-established entrepreneurs by organizing relevant business training and workshops on various business topics. Government departments and agencies may wish to integrate myriad training and workshops into an integrated program, such as initiatives offered by Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub in Canada (Cukier and Hassannezhad Chavoushi, 2020). The collaboration with other stakeholders such as chambers of commerce, business corporations, universities and NGOs should work together to avoid overlaps of programs by providing the necessary support especially sharing of business knowledge and experiences with RIWEs.…”

Section: Implications and Conclusionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of entrepreneurial performance of rural indigenous women entrepreneurs in Sarawak, Malaysia

Yap

Keling

2022

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Purpose This study aims to explore the influence of internal and external factors on the entrepreneurial performance of rural indigenous women entrepreneurs (RIWEs) in Sarawak. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a qualitative approach in data collection and analysis. Data are collected by means of a semistructured interview from 19 RIWEs at rural areas in Sarawak. Data are then analyzed using thematic analysis in NVivo software. Findings The study finds that RIWEs’ decision to start their business is mainly motivated by pull factors such as ego to succeed, ability to be self-employed and financially independent and to contribute to household income. The important personality traits of RIWEs to succeed in the entrepreneurial venture include self-belief, perseverance, commitment and risk-taking. Functional competencies and relationship competencies are cited as the most important core competencies to succeed. In terms of external factors, social networks, financial resources and support, business training and workshops and government’s preferential treatment policies are found to be important to RIWE’s entrepreneurial success. Originality/value This study is one of the few that explores the determinants of successful RIWEs in an emerging economy.

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“…For purpose-built assessment frameworks for entrepreneurial ecosystems, see Kreuzer et al (2018). For adaptions of large organizational frameworks in the contexts of entrepreneurial ecosystems see Orser et al (2019) and Cukier and Chavoushi (2020).…”

Section: Notesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A conceptual model and assessment criteria to inform gender-smart entrepreneurship education and training plus

Orser

Elliott

2021

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Purpose This study aims to problematize how gender is enacted within entrepreneurship education and training (EET). Design/methodology/approach Using a social feminist lens, this study advances principles, a conceptual framework, assessment criteria and illustrative performance metrics to inform gender-sensitive EET programs and courses. Findings are based on a cross-case thematic analysis of two large-scale case studies conducted in Canada and Jordan. Findings The findings bridge social feminist theory and EET studies. The originality of the research rests in its utilization of the principles and conceptual framework to examine EET and to inform the development, design and assessment of gender-sensitive programs and courses. Research limitations/implications The framework and criteria do not differentiate types or levels of EET. The investigators lead the assessment of curricula and co-construction of gender-sensitive course content. Interpreter bias cannot be ruled out. Practical implications The proposed principles, framework, criteria and performance will assist stakeholders in EET program/course design, content, delivery and evaluation. Social implications Aligned with the United Nation Sustain Development Goal 5 (gender equity), the findings demonstrate the value of adapting a critical lens across all elements of EET and responding to biases in participant selection and engagement, program design and curricula. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is among the first studies to use a social feminist perspective and case study methodology to inform criteria to assess EET.

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Facilitating women entrepreneurship in Canada: the case of WEKH

Cited by 28 publications

References 78 publications

(In)visibility in the margins: COVID-19, women entrepreneurs and the need for inclusive recovery

(In)visibility in the margins: COVID-19, women entrepreneurs and the need for inclusive recovery

Determinants of entrepreneurial performance of rural indigenous women entrepreneurs in Sarawak, Malaysia

A conceptual model and assessment criteria to inform gender-smart entrepreneurship education and training plus

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