The role of digitalization and education in empowering Egyptian women entrepreneurs

Abstract This study empirically investigates antecedents of women’s entrepreneurial intentions (EI), emphasizing the impacts of digitalization, financial constraints, and gender inequality. It further analyzes the mediating effects of education and adaptability on the link between restricted financial accessibility and EI. Informed by existing theoretical frameworks, a conceptual model was constructed and subjected to quantitative validation. Primary data were gathered through a structured questionnaire administered to 152 small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners/entrepreneurs in Egypt. The absence of a formal sampling frame necessitated the adoption of a non-probability quota sampling approach, ensuring representation across gender and entrepreneurship education (EE) dimensions. Data analysis employed partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) via SmartPLS software. Empirical results revealed that digital transformation has no significant effect on entrepreneurial intention. Limited financial resources have no significant effect on women’s entrepreneurial intention. A significant positive relationship exists between gender inequality and entrepreneurial intention. Limited financial resources contribute positively to education and adaptability, which in turn positively affect entrepreneurial intention. Thus, education and adaptability mediate the relationship between limited financial resources and women’s EI. These findings offer valuable insights for SMEs, emphasizing the importance of proactive, innovative activities to deliver customer value. They also provide implications for policymakers aiming to enhance Egypt’s entrepreneurial environment. This study is significant for several reasons. It contributes to a more thorough understanding of entrepreneurial motivation by providing new evidence from a developing country on what drives women to engage in entrepreneurship. Furthermore, while female entrepreneurs are crucial to Egypt’s economy, they remain understudied. Therefore, the findings can assist in developing policies and programs to encourage economic growth and advance female empowerment.