Women Entrepreneurs in Creative Industries: An Ecosystem Perspective

Abstract

Entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) represent interconnected networks of entrepreneurs and institutions that mutually shape and influence one another. Within this context, women entrepreneurs in Creative Industries (CIs) often balance dual roles as artists and businesspeople, requiring both creative and managerial skills. Despite their growing presence, women in CIs remain underrepresented in entrepreneurship ecosystem research, policy, and practice. This chapter explores how institutional contexts—particularly the role of family—shape and are shaped by the entrepreneurial behaviors of women in CIs. Using a mixed-methods approach, the authors integrate data from in-depth interviews (n = 25) and survey responses (n = 283) collected from women entrepreneurs across diverse CI sectors in Baltimore, Maryland, between 2019 and 2021. The authors’ findings identify the “business-like” skills and support systems most critical to women’s entrepreneurial success in CIs, including planning, communication, management, and marketing. The authors also highlight how family and broader institutional structures influence opportunities and challenges within the CI ecosystem. This chapter concludes with implications for ecosystem development, recommendations for public policy, and an agenda for future research. This chapter contributes to filling the research gap concerning women in EEs and offers practical implications for policymakers and stakeholders in fostering a conducive environment for women’s entrepreneurial endeavors in the creative realm.