The Sustainable Impact of Women Entrepreneurs in Rural Communities

Abstract

Sustainable entrepreneurship—the pursuit of business opportunities that jointly create economic, social, and environmental value—offers a promising pathway to address societal challenges. Bridging sustainable entrepreneurship and women’s entrepreneurship literature, this study examines how diverse profiles of women entrepreneurs align environmental and social goals with the aspiration of venture growth, advancing firm objectives beyond purely financial performance. Using a sample of approximately 20,000 women entrepreneurs from 63 countries and applying hierarchical linear regression analysis, our results show that rural women entrepreneurs prioritize social and environmental concerns more than their urban counterparts, with younger rural women entrepreneurs showing a stronger focus on social and environmental impact. Women entrepreneurs can balance social, environmental, and economic Triple Bottom Line goals, but those in rural areas face greater obstacles, particularly those focusing on innovation efforts. These findings offer important implications for policymakers seeking to promote inclusive and sustainable entrepreneurial environments, revealing the complex interplay between gender, age, and rurality and how these factors can shape sustainable impact and firm growth.