Women entrepreneurship: investigating the influence of emotional intelligence and innovativeness on entrepreneurial success

Purpose The study is designed to investigate whether women’s entrepreneurial success is affected by their emotional intelligence. It also investigates the mediating role of innovativeness in influencing the relationship of their emotional intelligence with entrepreneurial success. Design/methodology/approach Using a cross-sectional design, this study used a structured questionnaire to gather data from 274 women entrepreneurs spanning across various industries in north India. The data collected was analysed using the partial least squares structured equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique. Findings The findings demonstrate a notable and positive association between emotional intelligence and the entrepreneurial success of women. Additionally, innovativeness was found to partially mediate the relationship between emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial success. Entrepreneurial experience moderates the relationship between emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial success. Furthermore, age was not observed to moderate the connection between emotional intelligence and entrepreneurial success. Originality/value This study provides valuable insights for female entrepreneurs seeking to achieve success by harnessing their emotional intelligence and fostering innovativeness in their entrepreneurial pursuits. The study mainly provides evidence on the conclusive role of emotional intelligence among women entrepreneurs in their success in the relatively underresearched context of India, thereby consolidating knowledge on gendered entrepreneurship.