In Pakistan it is the adversity which works as motivating factor. The education does help but that is not enough. In my opinion incubation centers are needed

In Cuba we have a social developement from 1959, which has contributed to have the similar opportunities for women than men... Indeed I have participate at the anual event of the Cuban National Economist´Association about women entrepreneurs in which I made a presentation on 2008 with a paper that I am attaching.... But I really think that if we have the same opportunities we can became emrepreneurs!!!!!

A lot of successful women entrepreneurs always say that apart of inspiration and financial option , it is the motivation given by their families which builds the momemtum for them to be entrepreneur.so it very ture that family should support them to become entrepreneurs .

Hi!!! Archana Salve!!!!

It is real, if you don't have the support and the motivation from your family or society, it is unprobable you can develop your potential all the time as a woman entrepreneur, because you need to struggle with many forces in opposition to have successful in this world, which have been designed in a men' way.... Talking into account, all concerned to bussiness and management in PYMES or great enterprises.

I think it all depends on the initial push or pull factors. For immigrant entrepreneurs, push factors play an import role.

The causes depend greatly on the characteristics of women. In a work for Spain, we find that the reasons why women become entrepreneurs are related with the industry where they develop their activity. A preliminary version of the work you can download here: (ERSA Conference 2011)

http://www-sre.wu.ac.at/ersa/ersaconfs/ersa11/e110830aFinal01130.pdf

In Lebanon, many female entrepreneurs are self motivated and aspire for more taking advantage of family strengths and information technology facilities.

In Lebanon, women are also motivated by high self efficacy, fueled by empowerment. Lebanese women feel that they are highly capable, and are willing to initiate a start up, especially if they feel they have the necessary skills that support it. Empowerment can quickly raise their feeling of self-efficacy, thus influencing their entrepreneurial intention.

In Indian society, women entrepreneurs motivated for independence, financial strength and to satisfy esteem needs at part with their counter parts. Once they entered into the field of entrepreneurship that itself speaks about the empowerment and they gradually educate and learn themselves for necessary skills from the environment in which they are working.

Apart from empowerment, education, and urge of self-determination, there may be other factors that motivate women entrepreneurs. These include, support from family members, family background and track-record in business or entrepreneurship, current status in the society etc. Besides, note that empowerment as a motivating factor needs to be defined, ie. whether it is social or economic or political or a mix of all these. Generally speaking, in the Indian scenario, education coupled with reasonably high level of socio-economic status (whether acquired or existing), preferably (not necessarily) with some political empowerment too, would motivate women entrepreneurship. [Dr. Manoj P K, Faculty, DAE, CUSAT.]

I agree with Manoj. If a female entrepreneur belongs to a wealthy family her chances are much faster than a self-made female entrepreneur. More examples abound, if the female belongs to a family who has established family business, or if the female's relatives are known politicians, etc...

However, I believe that females in the current times are highly self-motivated even more than their male colleagues and show stronger spirit of entrepreneurship per se.

Yes, as noted by Hussin Hejase Sir, now a days women are more informed and self-motivated. This is primarily because of the advances in ICT, like, through the use of mobile phones, e-mail etc. They have a much broader network, and hence more empowered too. [Dr. Manoj P K, Faculty, DAE, CUSAT.]

I agree with Mr. Manoj P K and Mr. Hussin Hejase…. The women entrepreneur motivation have social and economic support policies to increase their real participation in the development of our countries.

In a report, about what has happened from Beijing to 2012 on Cuba, appeared on: http://www.redsemlac.net/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1680:cuba-de-beijing-a-2012-icuanto-avanzan-las-cubanas&catid=47:genero&Itemid=66

They inform that, since the Beijing Conference, for monitoring and care the agreement adopted by the Cuban representation, was created as a matter of law, in 1997, the National Action Plan to Monitor Beijing.

During discussions at the third seminar committees examined the compliance and enforcement of the 90 measures of the plan in respect of employment and access to decision-making levels, communication, community work, education, health and social work, law and sexual and reproductive health, research and statistics. For over 46 percent of the 90 measures contained in the Plan proposed amendments and made 49 new recommendations.

The opinion of the commission of employment and access to public office noted that "the Cuban participation in employment has been rising and uninterrupted process, characterized by significant qualitative changes from the cultural, technical and professional".According to preliminary figures from the National Bureau of Statistics and Information (ONEI), at the end of 2012 the female employment reached 813 814 million, which represents 37 percent.

Although it grows in several areas, the presence of women is still majority in the state sector, where they add up to 387 817 million (48% of total). For occupational categories, women have reached 20 percent among manual workers, 51 percent in services, 66 percent among technicians, 75 percent in administrative positions and 46 percent in management positions. In sectors such as labor, finance and prices, science, technology, education, health, economy, banking, trade and commerce, the female force exceeds 50 percent, while in tourism and communications exceeds 40 percent.

In the field of decision-making, women's presence grew 13.5 percent in the last decade. In the category of leaders, they represent 46 percent in the civilian public sector.

However, "we need to improve and increase support services to the home and especially those related to the care of children, elderly and disabled adults," says the report. Among other limitations, it was recognized that overloading of domestic and caring responsibilities limit women's access to positions of greater complexity and salary compensation. Also, there are rural communities where there is no jobs for women and not a few wives and daughters of peasants work full, but their work is not recognized or paid, so that lack of economic autonomy.

Even though, these support with an Action Plan and policies, still we have problems to increase the women partcipation at the economy.

Thank you Miriam.

I would like to invite you to read my paper on

Female Leadership: An Exploratory Research from Lebanon

Sono oltre 1,4 milioni le imprese femminili in Italia, sono più diffuse al Centro-Sud, operano preferibilmente nel commercio, in agricoltura e nei servizi alle persone, dove guidano 1 impresa su due. Ma soprattutto crescono due volte più della media nazionale a testimonianza del fatto che se il mondo del lavoro fa fatica ad offrire opportunità adeguate, le donne italiane comunque non si sentono da meno dei loro compagni uomini e dimostrano una voglia di affermazione anche superiore, decidendo di avviare una propria attività economica indipendente. Sono le imprenditrici italiane fotografate dall’Osservatorio dell’Imprenditoria femminile di Unioncamere, l’indagine semestrale realizzata da Unioncamere sulla base dei dati del Registro delle Imprese delle Camere di commercio. In che settori crescono? Un po’ ovunque: non solo nelle attività più tradizionalmente esercitate dalle donne – come il commercio, la cura della persona e l’istruzione – ma anche e in modo crescente nei servizi: dai servizi alle imprese (intermediazione immobiliare, informatica, ricerca), alla ristorazione e all’accoglienza, senza trascurare attività più ‘maschili’ come le costruzioni o i trasporti. Pur rimanendo consistente, si va invece lentamente riducendo la quota di imprese rosa nell’agricoltura.

In India there are women who acheived most of the thing without education so high esteem high motivation is required . Self motivation is also important & required without it they will not do anything.

Women who have big dream they try and achieve big dream eg. Rani Ahilya devi Holkar who was Ist lay in india who rule the country for 30 year. Prim minister India Gandhi, Rani Bang, Mother Teresa & many more are there.

Respected All,

We as women got an opportunity & here i would like to share one line

" I have a dream... That one day all of God's childern will be able to join and sing.... Free at last! Thanks God Almighty, we are free at last

by Martin Luther King Jr. speaking on 29th August 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial Washington D.C.

Don't you thing it is applicable to us also. I am one of them.

After Ahilya devi Holkar what happened dont know but other women till my grand mother did not got an opportunity to perform other than housework. my mother started working and now myself . so it is good feeling to perform.

We women should honest in whatever we do. nothing could be achieved alone so we have to involve others so We can make bigger things.

Our surrounding alway motivate us like Anita Ahuja (Coserve India) who have started her NGO & it worked nicely in Delhi with Munucipality. What is required is thing should comeout from your heart then only women can perform better. invisible hand is alway there but we should perform & then there is sky is the limit.

Education is required because it gives you the feeling that it's possible to do anything.

Sumita Ghose, Rangsutra Pvt Ltd have you heard about her she provide jobs to many rural indian . her model is successful & now she has Fabindia, Goodforall, & womenon wings many more are her clients.

So at the end i can say everything is possible for women

Best Regards,

Prof Vijaya Hake

Vishwakarma Institute of Management

I agree with Prof. Vijaya Hake, because I think that “I have a dream…… Free at last!” It is applied to all us the women…. And I want to share my history too….

Hortensia Fernández and María Luisa Soto, were my grandmothers, they did not got an opportunity to perform as professionals or and other than housework. My mother Hilda Sainz de Rozas could study and started working to pay her studies at the University, helping her father, but He died when she was 20 years old and was studying in 2nd year of Economics and Commercial career at the University of Havana ……. She left University and worked to help her mother with the expenses at home…. She became an operator of Cuban Telephone Company for the National Service, later became a supervisor, after an operator and supervisor later at the same Company but for international services. She applied as an office worker, later as a secretary, after some years she was rising at the Company and became asa president´s confidential bilingual secretary of the Company.

I was a little girl, when I love to become a teacher; it was the greatest dream of my life….. Always I was playing games with my brothers in I was the teacher and they were the students….. At the 60´s I won to become teacher in a quick way, finishing 6th grade and making a brief course, and my mother did not consent that, at 70´s I won to become junior high school professor, making a brief course too, but again, my mom did not consent that…. And at this moment she explained to me how she wanted to become professional when she was young and how her life made her a bad played, that she never could finish her career….. Then she told me that if I really want to become professor I will have finished a career at the University and She will be agree with after I will had a title I could become professor of the same career at University……. Finally, I became bachelor and started at University studying electrical engineer, as my father, and when I finished at the University, I applied for professor position and finally, I made that my and my mother dreams became true …. Now I have been worked as electrical engineer, I am auxiliary professor and preparing my doctoral thesis to become main professor….

That´s I am agree with you because, we women should honest and “perseverant” in whatever we do, but nothing could be achieved alone so we have to involve others, just then We can make bigger things. And yes too, Education is required because it gives you the feeling that it's possible to do anything.

And I can say as you that at the end everything is possible for women!!!!!!

My best regards for all women in whole wolrd!!!!!!

May we agree first to look at what motivates an entrepreneur to undertake all the risks in the world before looking at the issue of women, my brothers and sisters! (No offense intended) In some cultures especially in Europe and America, sex as a determinant of motivation to run a business may not be relevant. In Africa and parts of Asia and my Islamic brothers, it may be a big issue heh!

I found a good piece of work in relation to entrepreneur motivation in Africa in my research work some time ago. Maybe it may be a helpful insight.

Thilde, L., Namatovu, R. and l Dawa, S.( 2012) ‘Motivations and aspirations of young entrepreneurs in Uganda’ International Development Planning Review, 34 (4) [Online]. Available from: doi;10.3828/idpr.20t2.2ó (Accessed: April 24, 2013)

I am agree with Esteban Lafuente....... Could you study the book

Gung Ho!: Increase Productivity, Profits and Your Own Prosperity

by Kenneth H. Blanchard, Sheldon M. Bowles

About a successfull woman who Managed a company in risk...... Is delightful to read this book and have lessons abot leadership nor just for women!!!!!!

It can be all way around but economic motivation and urge for excellence may be important factors.

What motive any entrepreneurs are opportunities (market niches) that have not been exploited by someone else before. Therefore, women have the same motivations as men, no difference in that. Of course, women may see different opportunities since their presumption about the world may differ.

The problem of lack of women entrepreneurs lies somewhere else. It is in attitudes in the society of interest. To have any productive entrepreneurs, you need social tolerance and acknowledgment. People ability to become entrepreneurs is same everywhere and every time, but if you live in the world where women are understood to be inferior as businessmen, entrepreneurs or managers then these women will never become successful as businessmen, entrepreneurs or managers and they probably will not even try.

Mr. Dolejsi!!!!!! It is real, because even you could live in the world where women are not understood to be inferior as businessmen, entrepreneurs or managers, but years and years that have been accumulated by the myths of culture influence thought about women, even in this world are strongly and implicitly understood women as not capable to become successful as businessmen, entrepreneurs or managers and they influence that women would see as themself in an struggle environment.... where we need to prove each day of our life that we could be different but we have other kinds of values and behaviours which are important for the organizations where we work. Men and women can complement their common or natural knowledge and skills to make a their organizations a better place to work and to live.

Excuse me !!!!!!! I wanted to say

Mr. Dolejsi!!!!!!

It is real, because even if you could live in the world where women are not understood to be inferior as businessmen, entrepreneurs or managers, but where, by years and years, have been accumulated myths of culture which influence thought about women, even in this world have a strongly and implicitly understood women not capable to become successful as businessmen, entrepreneurs or managers and they influence that women would see as themself in an struggle environment.... Where we need to prove each day of our life that, we could be different, but we have other kinds of values and behaviors which are important for the organizations where we work. Men and women can complement their common or natural knowledge and skills to make their organizations a better place to work and to live.