What Do We Know about Albanian Women Entrepreneurs: Challenges and Opportunities

Silvana Gashi – Aleksander Moisiu University of Durres, Faculty of Business, Department of Management, Rr. Taulantia, L.1, 2001, Durres, Albania

Denada Liça – Aleksander Moisiu University of Durres, Faculty of Business, Department of Management, Rr. Taulantia, L.1, 2001, Durres, Albania

Abstract: Women entrepreneurs contribute considerably to the economy and business environment. However, they often have to cope with challeng­es in running an enterprise. This study aims to analyze the primary motiva­tion that inspires women to establish their businesses as well as challenges and opportunities. The methodology relies on secondary resources analyz­ing Albanian entrepreneurs. Findings show an increasing number of Albani­an women entrepreneurs who decide to create successful businesses. How­ever, they must cope with different challenges and barriers. Another critical finding is linked to the opportunities that derive from running a business, concluding that despite the various difficulties women entrepreneurs face, they are successful in the business world. This study offers an essential con­tribution to enlarging the literature on women entrepreneurs.

LIMEN Conference

9th International Scientific-Business Conference – LIMEN 2023 – Leadership, Innovation, Management and Economics: Integrated Politics of Research – CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS, Hybrid (Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria), December 7, 2023

LIMEN Conference Proceedings published by the Association of Economists and Managers of the Balkans, Belgrade, Serbia

LIMEN Conference 2023 Conference Proceedings: ISBN 978-86-80194-78-3, ISSN 2683-6149, DOI: https://doi.org/10.31410/LIMEN.2023

Creative Commons Non Commercial CC BY-NC: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission. 

References

Aman, R., Ahokangas, P., Elo, M., & Zhang, X. (2022). Migrant women entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial ecosystem. In Contemporary Issues in Entrepreneurship Re­search (Vol. 14, pp. 87–119). Emerald Group Holdings Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2040-724620220000014005  

BiznesAlbania. (2017). An Enabling Environment for Sustainable Enterprises in Albania. http:// www.idra.al 

Blau, A., & Janssen, C. (2020). Albania Country Profile. https://www.ceicdata.com/en/indicator/albania/real-gdp-growth 

Challa, J., & Khalid Perwez, S. (2023). Influence of leadership styles of women entrepreneurs on their psychological wellbeing. Journal of Profess. Bus. Review. Miami, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.26668/businessreview/2023.v8i6.2293  

Cheraghi, M. (2013). Innovation by entrepreneurs in China: the increasing prominence of wom­en. Journal of Knowledge-Based Innovation in China, 5(3), 172–187. https://doi.org/10.1108/jkic-08-2013-0016 

Chitac, I. M. (2023). Identity is a matter of place: intersectional identities of Romanian wom­en migrant entrepreneurs on the Eastern-Western European route. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-10-2022-0897 

Countries, M., & Taxation, T. (2018). National Study – Albania.

Crittenden, V. L., & Bliton, K. H. (2019). Direct selling: The power of women helping women. In Go-to-Market Strategies for Women Entrepreneurs: Creating and Exploring Success (pp. 195– 205). Emerald Group Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78973-289-420191024 

Fallah, M. R., & Soori, M. (2023). Presenting a framework for the successful entry of wom­en entrepreneurs into green entrepreneurship. Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management, 14(3), 467–486. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSTPM-03-2021-0041 

Ghosh, S. (2022). Changing Trends in Women Education and Women Empowerment. Interna­tional Journal of Humanities Social Science and Management (IJHSSM), 2(4), 585–593. www.ijhssm.org 

Hussain, S., Alshibani, S. M., & Daneshvar, A. (2023). Innovative Decision-Making and ambigu­ity: Women entrepreneurs exploring internationalisation opportunities. In Decision-Mak­ing in International Entrepreneurship: Unveiling Cognitive Implications Towards Entre­preneurial Internationalisation (pp. 81–99). Emerald Group Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80382-233-420231005  

Icka, E., Adams, J., & Kauffman, R. (2021). Environmental Sustainability Practices of Albani­an Micro Enterprises and SMEs. Midwest Social Sciences Journal, 24(1), 77–91. https://doi.org/10.22543/0796.241.1041 

International Labour Organization. (2023). SDG principles and positive practices adopted by the textile, clothing, leather, and footwear sector in Albania. www.ilo.org/publns 

Jha, P., & Alam, M. M. (2022). Antecedents of women entrepreneurs’ performance: an em­pirical perspective. Management Decision, 60(1), 86–122. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-07-2020-0849  

Kajtazi, K. (2021). Women Entrepreneurs and the Challenge of Work-Life Balance: Evi­dence from Kosovo. In The Emerald Handbook of Women and Entrepreneurship in Developing Economies (pp. 145–164). Emerald Group Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80071-326-020211009 

Kawamorita, H., Salamzadeh, Y., Kahramanoğlu, A., Demiryürek, K., Abacı, N. İ., & Takahashi, N. (2021). Gendered Social Capital in Developing Countries: The Case of Turkey. In The Emerald Handbook of Women and Entrepreneurship in Developing Economies (pp. 247– 292). Emerald Group Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80071-326-020211014 

Nallasamy, S., Ranjith Kumar, D., Professor, A., & Sankaran, A. (2023). Social responsibili­ties and essentials of women entrepreneurship in the union territory: a case evidence from Puducherry, India. Turkish Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, 32(3), 27955– 27969. www.turkjphysiotherrehabil.org 

Nayak, M., Nayak, P. M., Birau, R., Wanke, P., & Tan, Y. A. (2023). Exploring women en­trepreneurs’ push–pull motives and challenges: empirical evidence in an emerging economy. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-09-2023-0210  

Nixdorff, J. L., & Rosen, T. H. (2010). The glass ceiling women face: An examination and pro­posals for development of future women entrepreneurs. New England Journal of Entre­preneurship, 13(2), 71–87. http://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/neje/vol13/iss2/1 

Pavlović, D., Bjelica, D., Bodroža, D., Jovičić, E., & Pindžo, R. (2022). Women’s Econom­ic Empowerment through Tourism: A Case Study of Selected Western Balkans Coun­tries. Journal Women’s Entrepreneurship and Education, 2022(3–4), 149–175. https://doi.org/10.28934/jwee22.34.pp149-175  

Polas, M. R. H., Raju, V., Muhibbullah, M., & Tabash, M. I. (2022). Rural women charac­teristics and sustainable entrepreneurial intention: a road to economic growth in Bang­ladesh. Journal of Enterprising Communities, 16(3), 421–449. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEC-10-2020-0183 

Rama, K., Gjika, A., Zhllima, E., & Imami, D. (2018). Accelerating Progress on Effective To­bacco Tax Policies in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. National Study – Albania. 1–33.

Rao, S. (2014). Nurturing entrepreneurial women: Insights from a developing country. Jour­nal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 6(3), 268–297. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-04-2014-0014 

Rudhumbu, N., du Plessis, E. (Elize), & Maphosa, C. (2020). Challenges and opportunities for women entrepreneurs in Botswana: revisiting the role of entrepreneurship education. Journal of International Education in Business, 13(2), 183–201. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIEB-12-2019-0058  

Sadrnabavi, F., & Daneshvar, H. (2022). Lived experiences of successful women entrepreneurs (SMEs) in Iran: a feminist phenomenological study. Qualitative Research in Financial Markets. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRFM-12-2021-0198 

Sallah, C. A., & Caesar, L. D. (2020). Intangible resources and the growth of women business­es: Empirical evidence from an emerging market economy. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 12(3), 329–355. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-05-2019-0070 

The World Bank. (2021). WBG Diagnostic Strengthening the Sustainability of Albania’s Growth Model.