Factors influencing Peruvian women to become entrepreneurs

The purpose of the present paper is to report an exploratory cross-sectional study intended to examine the factors that are very likely to motivate Peruvian women to become entrepreneurs, in the conceptual framework of the push-pull theory. The study employed the in-depth, face-to-face interview technique, using a semi-structured interview guide. Furthermore, the snowball sampling technique was used in order to identify the participants for focus group discussions. Findings from this study suggest that (a) personal growth, (b) social mission and (c) interpersonal relationships, represent the most important factors influencing Peruvian women's entrepreneurial choice. Financial motivation is important; however, it does not represent a primary motivation to female entrepreneurship. Moreover, findings also suggest that Peruvian women appear to be influenced by pull factors and not by reasons of necessity, as it is generally believed. The present study focused on gaining a deeper insight into what motivates Peruvian women to become entrepreneurs. In order to generalize the study, a quantitative-oriented approach of larger samples of female entrepreneurs is needed. Peruvian female rates of involvement in entrepreneurship are among the highest in the world; hence, Peruvian women's entrepreneurship, properly nurtured, has great potential as a tool for transforming the Peruvian economy. Despite its importance, it has been noticed that most of the research comprising this topic has been undertaken in developed economies. This represents a problem in understanding women entrepreneurs in general, since the social realities vary widely in developing countries. Hence, the present study aims to contribute to the existing literature by applying the push-pull theory in Peru.