From Margins to Markets: Women, Technology, and Entrepreneurial Development in Emerging Markets

Abstract

Women’s entrepreneurship promotes inclusive economic growth and social transformation in emerging markets. Women entrepreneurs not only contribute to household income and job creation—particularly for other women—but also mobilize underutilized resources and serve underserved markets with contextually grounded innovations. Importantly, women entrepreneurs amplify social impact by reinvesting their earnings into health, education, and community welfare.

Despite their contributions, most of the women-led enterprises in emerging markets operate within informal and small-scale sectors. This is largely due to macroeconomic challenges that are deeply intertwined with cultural and institutional constraints. For example, cultural and social norms that prioritize domestic responsibilities and restrict property rights and women’s participation in decision-making limit access to capital and financial services. Additionally, inadequate digital infrastructure, access to transportation, energy, and varying regulatory reforms limit participation in formal markets. Recognizing the critical role women entrepreneurs play in sustainable development, this talk draws on several empirical studies and engaged learning projects from Sub-Saharan Africa to illustrate how existing social, economic, and technological environments influence women’s entrepreneurship.