No woman is an island: cross-generational experiences of navigating entrepreneurial barriers and opportunities in a collectivist culture

Purpose This study aims to explore how aspiring young and established women entrepreneurs develop entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) within a collectivist cultural context (United Arab Emirates (UAE)). It addresses a critical gap in the literature by focusing on the relational, contextual and emotional processes that shape women's entrepreneurial confidence at different life stages. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 29 female university students and a focus group discussion with 3 established women entrepreneurs, thematic analysis was employed to examine how culture, policy, mentorship and community shape women's entrepreneurial self-beliefs. Findings The analysis reveals that cultural expectations are shifting to support women's economic roles, yet patriarchal norms and unequal access to networks and mentorship remain persistent barriers. Students lack exposure to female entrepreneurial role models, whereas established entrepreneurs emphasize the importance of communities and networks. Research limitations/implications This study is limited to the UAE and may not reflect all collectivist societies. Future comparative and longitudinal studies are required to validate and expand the concept of we-efficacy to different cultural and sectoral contexts. Practical implications The development of gender-sensitive, relational entrepreneurship ecosystems, including peer-based mentorship programs and increased accessibility to support services, is recommended. Such interventions should focus on skill development and fostering belonging, identity and emotional confidence. Originality/value This study extends ESE theory by proposing a collectivist-informed construct, we-efficacy, to describe how individual confidence is co-constructed through collective validation, shared values and relational support. It also provides practical recommendations for policy and educational programming tailored to Arab and collectivist settings.