Against all Odds: Intangible Resources Driving Social Value Creation Among Women Entrepreneurs in Pakistan

This study explores the direct impact of intangible resources—including human capital, social capital, and reputational capital—on social value creation by women entrepreneurs in Pakistan. It further examines the moderating effects of perceived gender discrimination and entrepreneurial alertness on the relationship between these intangible resources and social value creation. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire from 122 Pakistani women social entrepreneurs and analyzed using SPSS and SMART PLS 3 software packages. The findings indicate that intangible resources significantly contribute to social value creation. Specifically, human capital and social capital are positively associated with social value creation. However, the positive influence of reputational capital on social value creation diminishes in the presence of high levels of perceived gender discrimination and entrepreneurial alertness. Interestingly, while perceived gender discrimination amplifies the positive effect of human capital on social value creation, entrepreneurial alertness does not significantly alter this relationship. In contrast, neither perceived gender discrimination nor entrepreneurial alertness moderates the relationship between social capital and social value creation. These results underscore the complexity of the interplay between intangible resources and external contextual factors in shaping social value creation among women entrepreneurs in Pakistan. The study highlights the critical need to support and enhance these intangible resources while addressing contextual barriers to foster greater social impact through women’s entrepreneurship.