Abstract
Entrepreneurship is seen as a potential solution to create jobs, mitigate poverty, and empower women. However, the percentage of Egyptian women entrepreneurs is low compared to similar countries. Egypt has a dearth of studies investigating the motivations and constraints faced by Egyptian women entrepreneurs. Therefore, this study aims to present insights into these aspects by exploring the factors that motivate, constrain and enable women entrepreneurs in Egypt. Using a qualitative approach, the study employed purposive sampling, to conduct semi-structured interviews with (10) women entrepreneurs from five regions in Egypt as primary data. It adopted an integrative framework, combining institutional theory, the need for achievement, and Isenberg's (2010) ecosystem model. The findings indicated that Egyptian women entrepreneurs are primarily driven by intrinsic needs such as passion for a particular activity, a need for achievement, and overcome a societal discriminatory. In additional to extrinsic factors that include, the need to supplement family income or the loss of a family breadwinner. The study also identifies several constraints, such as difficulty in raising capital, socio-cultural commitments, work-family conflict, sexual harassment, lack of training, and business networks. Key enablers for overcoming these constraints include support from family and spouses, religious values, personal traits, and technology skills. Based on these findings, the study recommends strategies for empowering women entrepreneurs, such as creating a funding program for women entrepreneurs, raising awareness about the importance of women_s entrepreneurship, and addressing sexual harassment. In conclusion, Egyptian women are motivated to entrepreneurship based on intrinsic and extrinsic factors. While, lack of financial resources, socio-cultural, work- family balancing and sexual harassment are the main constraints faced by Egyptian women entrepreneurs. Religious values, personal traits, family and husbands play a crucial role in helping women entrepreneurs to overcome entrepreneurial constraints._ _ _ _