Exploring the role of women entrepreneurs in firm internationalization strategic decision-making

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Abstract

Women entrepreneurs have emerged as main contributors to the dynamic landscape of the business world, with a noticeable increase in their numbers choosing entrepreneurship as a career path. This phenomenon is particularly present in developing nations like Albania, where women entrepreneurs are not only instrumental in fostering competitive advantage within the domestic market but are also making significant steps in the international arena. This study aims to investigate the crucial role played by women entrepreneurs in the process of firm internationalization, with a specific focus on the Albanian context. Through a literature review as the primary methodology, this research focuses on the experiences and contributions of Albanian women entrepreneurs to investigate the complexities of their involvement in the internationalization of businesses. The findings underline the main role women entrepreneurs play as facilitators in the internationalization process, showing their ability to drive firms towards expanded global reach. This study analyses the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in this process, offering valuable insights into the obstacles they pass and the opportunities they seize. By exploring the experiences of women entrepreneurs in a specific geographic and socio-economic context, this study provides a perspective on the challenges and opportunities inherent in the internationalization process. This paper significantly contributes to the understanding of the role of women entrepreneurs in firm internationalization within the Albanian context, offering detailed insights into how they leverage their unique capabilities and networks to facilitate business growth beyond domestic borders. It enriches the literature by highlighting the specific challenges and opportunities encountered by women entrepreneurs.

Keywords: Women Entrepreneurs, Internationalization, Competitive Advantage, Challenges, Opportunities

Authors’ individual contributions: Conceptualization — D.L. and S.G.; Methodology — D.L. and S.G.; Software — D.L. and S.G.; Validation — D.L. and S.G.; Investigation — D.L. and S.G.; Resources — D.L. and S.G.; Writing — D.L. and S.G.; Supervision — D.L.

Declaration of conflicting interests: The Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

JEL Classification: F23, J16, L26

Received: 21.02.2024
Accepted: 04.07.2024
Published online: 09.07.2024

How to cite this paper: Liça, D., & Gashi, S. (2024). Exploring the role of women entrepreneurs in firm internationalization strategic decision-making. Corporate Board: Role, Duties and Composition, 20(2), 20–26. https://doi.org/10.22495/cbv20i2art2