Chapter 4: Case Studies Overview

This chapter introduces the studies of 10 women business founders as they position themselves, their ideas, and their products or services in their respective industries. The chapter also describes some of the characteristics of their countries as well as the cultural norms that affect the founders in their business endeavors. Interviews with entrepreneurship authorities in each locality, including government initiatives, educational institutions, and grant officials, form the basis of this chapter. The above factors and agents are specific to start-ups and entrepreneurial enterprises in each country.

The case studies come from several industries: food and beverages, technology and education, textiles and apparel, publishing and the preservation of indigenous language, cosmetics, ecology and recycling (plastic), art, tourism, and artisan crafts. Many of the enterprises’ activities overlap with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that have social, political, economic, educational, and environmental activist goals.