Research On Shared Value Creation And Women’s Enterprise Development

This study aims to identify a pathway that connects female entrepreneurship and shared value creation, focusing on women’s enterprise development. There is a lack of comprehensive research regarding the combination of the two concepts. The framework arose due the fact that, although women are making relevant advancements in entrepreneurship, yet, if compared to men, they lack access to finance, training, and rights, besides differing in terms of economic opportunities. Within this frame, the research highlights the Women’s Empowerment Principles by the United Nations and their goals towards women’s advancement. In order to investigate the proposed correlation, the object of the study is the global corporate-led non-profit WEConnect International as an effective initiative whose actions connect women-owned businesses to market opportunities.The methodology includes primary and secondary data. A questionnaire was applied to the corporate members and another to women-owned businesses within WEConnect International’s network and the results were interpreted and also analyzed with a statistical approach. Data about gender equality and women’s empowerment, business environment, female entrepreneurship, and enterprise development were obtained from Babson College, the Diana Project, Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, International Finance Centre, International Labor Organization, International Trade Centre, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, UN Women, United Nations Development Programme, United Nation Global Compact, World Bank, among others, and were used for the analysis and the quantitative approach. The shared value concept by M. Kramer and M. Porter was considered for this study. As for the female entrepreneurship and women’s enterprise development, the works of C. Brush, E. Buttner, N. Carter, S. Carter, T. Fenwick, E. Gatewood, P. Greene, M. Hart, D. Moore, A. Morrison, B. Orser, and J. Weeks, among others, were theoretical references. P. Stearns provided a historical and economic context for gender roles.The research’s theme, object and scope comprise:female entrepreneurship and shared value creation, the WEConnect International Initiative, and Women’s Enterprise Development, respectively. These reflect the overall chapter structure of the dissertation. The absence of previous scholar assessment about shared value creation and female entrepreneurship represented a limitation for the present research, and as a consequence, comparisons could not be made nor could we adapt or reduplicate previous applied methodology. Among the creative points, one might say the main one is making use of the concept of shared value as a strategy that may impact on women’s enterprise development.The results revealed the corporate members’belief that shared value is created with both the company and communities as a result of supporting WEConnect International, by increasing the opportunities available to women-owned suppliers. As for the women-owned businesses, Canada was the country with the highest level of respondents. The results among the Canadian firms already making corporate connections presented the most relevant aspects as a result of doing business to multinational companies. Innovation had the highest impact rates among the proposed variables. The Canadian Government has included women’s entrepreneurship in the country’s agenda and today in Canada women business owners are the fastest-growing segment of business sector, operating firms across all industry sectors. Many of them are increasingly engaged in global trade and are growth-oriented. Thus, the Canadian women-owned firms will deserve here special attention.Finally, the WEConnect International is emphasized as a tool to create shared value by connecting women-owned businesses and companies looking for a diverse supplier base. The outcomes of this study will be able to give a different perspective on female entrepreneurial activities in the21st century as women’s enterprise development could be a key channel to create shared value. They suggest the importance of gender in terms of entrepreneurship and its impact on economy and societal progress.