WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS PATH TO SUCCESS: AN INVESTIGATION OF THE CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS IN MALAYSIA

Entrepreneurship has always been men’s terrain, but women’s interest in business shows some escalation in Malaysia, but their success is still insignificant. This incites questions about the factors that affect their success in business and as entrepreneurs. This research aims to offer an insight into the success factors among women entrepreneurs in Malaysia. Therefore, this research concentrated on the significance of five particular variables, which are financial capital, human capital, social capital, innovation and work-life balance in contributing towards the success of the women entrepreneurs in Malaysia. In order to meet the aim of this study, a survey technique is used to develop a detailed profile, which is gathered from 313 female respondents out of 400 formal standardized questionnaires sent. From the primary data, an understanding of the women entrepreneur’s success factors was drawn. This study used quantitative methods to produce empirical outcomes and substantiations that answer the research questions. The Resource-Based View Theory and Conflict Theory were used as the theoretical foundation to fill the gap and to determine the significance of the critical factors for success. Firstly, the analysis shows that the higher the education level of the women entrepreneurs, the access to financial capital is better, as well as they, can be more innovative. Secondly, married women entrepreneurs have better access to social capital but lower work-life balance. Finally, based on the hypothesis presented, all the factors are significant for the success of the women entrepreneurs. The findings of this research could perhaps serve as a guide to other Malaysian women to rise against all the odds faced in their quest to achieve success and continue to evolve at the socio-economic level as well as maintain a competitive edge in the business sector