The path to self-employment

Purpose : The article analyses the motivation and main characteristics of self-employed women, focusing on the situation in the Republic of Croatia. The aim is to identify the specificities of female entrepreneurship, understand the motivational factors that encourage women to become self-employed and examine the challenges they face in order to create support for their further development and strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Methodology : A qualitative methodology was used, starting with data collection through semi-structured interviews with three self-employed women entrepreneurs in Croatia. The interviews focused on the motivational factors for starting an entrepreneurial activity and the personal characteristics of the interviewees. The collected data were analysed using descriptive analysis and the responses were interpreted using thematic analysis to gain insight into the experiences and attitudes of interviewees. Results: The results show that women in Croatia are motivated by the desire for independence, autonomy, creativity, and the desire to create new value, rather than the direct need for income. Respondents emphasise the importance of family and community support, but also challenges such as social and cultural norms and the need to balance work and family responsibilities. Conclusion: The study confirms that the motivational factors and characteristics of female entrepreneurs are more complex than the common stereotypes and that they are the key to success in entrepreneurship. Understanding the specificities of female entrepreneurship is crucial for developing the entrepreneurial environment and promoting greater equality and economic growth.