Drivers for women entrepreneurship in Central Asia: A case analysis of Kazakhstani enterprises

Abstract Female entrepreneurs in Central Asia contribute to economic development through their business establishment and workplace creation for others. Research shows that the motivation of women to start a business differs based on time and place-specific factors. Extant studies argue that women in developing economies opt for entrepreneurship because of push factors such as economic necessity and the need for a work-home balance. In contrast, women in advanced economies choose to be self-employed due to pull factors such as the need for self-actualization and independence. This study proposes a conceptual model to understand female entrepreneurial leadership in Kazakhstan by exploring the perceptions and experiences of women entrepreneurs within their leadership roles. It adopted Stewart’s model of role demands-constraints-choices (DCC) to understand their perceptions of the demands, constraints, and choices they experience within their leadership roles, exploring the main drivers for Kazakhstani women’s business establishment decisions addressing an existing knowledge gap on entrepreneurial leadership by aggregating three critical constructs of gender, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Based on semi-structured interviews, this study finds that Kazakhstani women start a business to earn an income, feed their children, and provide better living conditions. The findings also indicate that the case of women entrepreneurs’ motivation in Kazakhstan is distinct from existing literature on female entrepreneurs’ motivation in Central Asia developing economies. HIGHLIGHTS Kazakhstani women start businesses to earn income, feed children, and improve living conditions. Drivers are distinct from female entrepreneurs in Central Asia’s developing economies. Push strategies are a major driver for Kazakhstani women entrepreneurs.