Sustainability Performance of Women Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries: A Multidimensional Analysis of Public Policy, Culture, Competencies, and Gender Factors in Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is the primary engine of global economic growth. However, for a long time, the representation of women in the business and entrepreneurial world has been a challenge that must be addressed. Although many women possess immense potential in entrepreneurship, factors such as gender bias, limited access to capital, and cultural difficulties often serve as significant obstacles. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the impact of public policy, national culture, entrepreneurial competencies, and gender inequality on the sustainable performance of women entrepreneurs from low-income backgrounds. This research also aims to investigate the mediation effect of entrepreneurial competencies and the moderating effect of gender inequality through statistical analysis using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) method and AMOS software. The study sample consisted of 389 women entrepreneurs from low-income groups, selected using a purposive sampling method. Research indicates that public policy, national culture, entrepreneurial competencies, and gender inequality have a significant impact on the performance of sustainable entrepreneurship. The study also revealed that the mediated and moderated models are substantial. As a result, a good ecosystem for successful entrepreneurs is needed, which includes a pro-entrepreneurial and gender-balanced environment, as well as active entrepreneurship development programs to enhance entrepreneurial competency levels. JEL Classification : J24, L26