Women Entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka: An Exploration of Psychological Characteristics.

Abstract

The psychological characteristics of women entrepreneurs are unique and essential for entrepreneurial engagement and related decision-making. They are directly involved in building successful entrepreneurs who grow amidst challenges. This research explores the psychological characteristics of women entrepreneurs in the craft-based fashion sector in Sri Lanka (SL) to enhance the theoretical understanding of the unique perspective of women entrepreneurship (WE) in understudied countries in the global South. The research adopts a qualitative approach where semi-structured in-person interviews were conducted with fifteen respondents selected through a purposive sampling. Data were reviewed and analysed through thematic analysis, and six psychological characteristics of women entrepreneurs in SL were identified. They are enthusiasm, intelligence, tolerance, agility, empathy, and courage. This research aims to contribute to the literature on WE in developing countries, specifically the Global South. The findings highlight the importance of utilizing distinctive approaches and systems to encourage WE, especially in SL, and open more avenues for future researchers to study contextual identity further through insights from women’s standpoints.