On the Front Line of the Circular Economy: The Entrepreneurial, Identity and Institutional Work of a Female Entrepreneur towards the Circular Transition

This article traces the experiences of Vicky, a female entrepreneur who runs a circular business that produces swim and activewear from regenerated fishing nets. The idea of a circular economy, which moves away from the linear economic model based on a make-use-dispose logic towards the elimination of waste and a sustainable use of the world’s resources, has rapidly gained popularity. Vicky’s story highlights the often overlooked but critical role of small businesses and their owners in this systemic change. Vicky performs three intertwined but distinct forms of work – entrepreneurial work on the business, identity work on the self and institutional work on the wider world – that all contribute to the circular transition. At the same time, Vicky exemplifies an alternative approach to entrepreneurship through a relational interpretation of circularity. Her case draws attention to how the labour of actors in the grassroots propels large-scale transitions.

Status of Women-entrepreneur in Indian Startups

Entrepreneurship refers to the process of creating wealth for the society with the entrepreneurial capability not only for the entrepreneur but also for the societal, government, and economy of nation cause by availing the opportunities in a fast-shifting social, political, legal and economic environment. The increasing rate of Start-ups has been registered over a couple of years and in maximum start-ups founders are male. Female entrepreneur is now initiating and performing at the digital platform. Females increasing number of enrolment in schools and higher education has contributed to innovative products and niche market. Women play a vital role in every sphere of life in the family and in building society as well. As far as an entrepreneur is concern there is insignificant participation of women entrepreneurs. In the 21st century, as women empowerment has become the main focus of discussion, the government and societies have identified the potentially women’s participation and their importance but still while creating policies women entrepreneur is ignored. The participation of women is necessary for socio-economic progress and for the large interest of any Nation. Strategy makers must understand the prerequisite for women entrepreneurs and avenues for women’s economic independence. The Government of India has defined women entrepreneurs as “An enterprise owned and controlled by women having a minimum financial interest of 51 per cent of the capital and giving at least 51 per cent of the employment generated in the enterprise to women. Women Entrepreneur is a person who accepts a challenging role to meet her personal needs and become economically independent.” This study analyses their current status causes that have provoked them to set free their entrepreneurial abilities into start-ups. The study will facilitate in understanding the women-entrepreneurship to researchers, policy-makers, educators and practitioners help them to foster a favourable conducive ecosystem for women-entrepreneur. This research study is based on secondary data where drawbacks in entrepreneurial policy are highlighted and some recommendations are given to promote the healthy growth of women entrepreneurs. As per scheme guidelines, in Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme(EAP) and Entrepreneurship Skill Development Programme (ESDP) there should be overall 40% women participation. This paper tries to analyze the participation of women startups in economic development and to identify various factors responsible for higher numbers of womenstartups. The causes of low female-start-up participation are difficult in access to finance and networks, responsibilities towards family and child-care, low level of confidence in business in women’s skills. This research paper tries to recommend some measures that can assist women’s entrepreneurial empowerment. This study also gives an insight into opportunity and prospect for female-entrepreneur and analyse start-up scheme of government to empower women entrepreneurs and the challenges they face.

Designing the Future of Romanian Women Entrepreneurship

This chapter seeks to offer new insights into the profile of women entrepreneurs in Romania. Moreover, it analyses the factors that may contribute to the creation of sustainable women-led businesses. The questionnaire used in the survey included 21 questions, divided into six sections, and responses collected using the questionnaires allowed the calculation of statistical indicators for this study, namely: the mean, median, mode, standard deviation/standard error, variance, the amplitude of the variance, the sum of all observations, the asymmetry coefficient Skewness, the vaulting coefficient Kurtosis and the calculation of quartiles. The research results reveal an accomplished female entrepreneur who possesses a strong sense of entrepreneurship and she is supported by her family in her entrepreneurship career.

On Being a Female Entrepreneur in the Arts: Comparative Experiences

This essay explores some of the issues facing female arts entrepreneurs by establishing findings from research data and comparing these findings with the experiences of two established international women artists from the culinary world and contemporary music, respectively. Themes such as revenue inequality, struggles by women to find and maintain venture capital and the dilemma of how to label women in the arts are joined by emerging conversations about the role of art in business, the importance of giving and receiving support, the dilemma of balancing family life, especially with partners who are also artistically engaged, and the role of motherhood. Implications and recommendations for further discussions in arts entrepreneurship education are provided as channels for change.

Gender Differences in Risk Taking Among Entrepreneurs : Case on Small Medium Enterprise in Malang

Risk taking considered as one important dimension of entreprenurial orientation. This research aims to study gender differences on risk taking among entrepreneur. The overall objective of this research is to highlight the link between gender difference in risk taking when managing small business. Independent Sample T-Test and Confirmatory Factor Analysis was used to explore the phenomenon about whether there is differences in perception among male and female entrepreneur. Descriptive statistic reveals that female entrepreneur scored higher than the male entrepreneur on four of six indicator of risk taking. Eventhough there is no statistical differences in risk taking between male and female entrepreneur is small and the percentage of variance explained is low, there are significant differences in how male and female entrepreneur reflect their risk taking perception found in this study. Overall, these recommendations should help researchers to design and use more relevant risk-taking measures.Conclusions drawn from this study might be useful to better understand the use of risk taking model in entrepreneurial context.

Desi Fusion and the Lyall Farm Store: The Challenges of Balancing Profits, Tradition and Social Responsibility in a Rapidly Developing India

This case is about an Indian female entrepreneur, Ms.Pavit Sidhu Puri, who was attempting to profitably create opportunities for impoverished women producing traditional hand-crafted products and environmentally-friendly, homemade traditional Indian delicacies. She was CEO of 2 businesses — Lyall Farm Store (LFS) and Desi Fusion (DF). LFS was established by Gursharan Kaur in 2004. It mainly dealt in traditional hand-made food items likes herbs, spices, pickles and other staple foods, while DF was launched in 2011 by Pavit Sidhu Puri, the daughter in law of Gursharan Kaur. DF’s products gave a modern twist to the traditional Phulkari (the handmade embroidery work of the Punjab) by converting it into products like laptop and mobile covers, handbags, wines covers and tissue boxes. Both businesses have been doing very well. They have been profitable so far, but the number of orders had been decreasing. They have encountered problems involving sourcing the right raw material, ensuring the availability of labor keeping the costs low, as well as creating awareness and acceptance among customers. After the death of Gursharan Kaur, Pavit was left alone to surmount the problems at both companies. She had inherited a legacy and as well as initiated her own venture. Now she was at a juncture where she had to overcome the present problems and place both ventures on growth trajectory.