Unlocking Entrepreneurial Potential: Connection to Creation through a Visualizing Method for Enhancing Women’s Business Networks in Tourism

This study proposes a novel descriptive method, “Entrepreneurial Networks – Stakeholder Value Creation Mapping” (EN-SVCM) to support women entrepreneurs in the tourism sector of developing countries. Although business networks are widely acknowledged as critical to entrepreneurial success, many women face persistent social and structural challenges in accessing and leveraging such networks. The EN-SVCM method delineated in this paper integrates existing frameworks and tools to visualize current business networks, identify value exchanges, and strategically expand stakeholder connections. A pilot workshop in Uzbekistan was conducted with six women entrepreneurs to validate the method. Participants visualized their networks, conceptualized new experiential tourism services, and refined ideas through peer learning. Findings support the method’s effectiveness and potential to strengthen entrepreneurial capabilities, enhance network awareness and expansion, uncovering growth opportunities, and enhancing network-based ideation. The EN-SVCM method offers a practical, adaptable tool for empowering women entrepreneurs by improving networks, stakeholder engagement and fostering inclusive, sustainable entrepreneurship in tourism.