Do psycho-entrepreneurial traits and social networks matter for innovativeness among Saudi female entrepreneurs?

PurposePsychological and entrepreneurial traits have been widely studied as explicative variables of encouraging entrepreneurial behavior, while their impact on innovative activity is less explored. This study examines whether, how and why psycho-entrepreneurial traits and social networks effect innovativeness among women firm owners.Design/methodology/approachAnalysis of data collected from 304 Saudi women entrepreneurs accompanied by business accelerators provides a wide support with some notable exceptions. We use Structural Equation Modeling technique to estimate how different constructs interact with each other and jointly affect directly or indirectly women's innovativeness behavior in Saudi Arabia.FindingsFindings point out that innovativeness is positively and significantly affected by emotional intelligence, internal locus of control, entrepreneurial alertness and entrepreneurial self-efficacy. The construct of entrepreneurial self-efficacy mediates the relationship between both business and personal networks and innovativeness. However, professional forums and mentors have no significant effect on innovativeness.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample selection is limited to two entrepreneurial support structures especially business accelerator and business incubator. Expanding the context to other support structures can reinforce the implications and provide more valuable results.Practical implicationsThe findings are likely to be of applicability for improving women entrepreneurship by entrepreneurial support structures.Originality/valueThis research is original in the sense that it investigated useful insights of innovativeness among Saudi female entrepreneurs.