Women's entrepreneurship in Lebanon's crisis: a multi-level analysis of challenges, opportunities, leadership and socio-economic contributions

Abstract

Purpose – This study examines women's entrepreneurship in Lebanon amid a prolonged crisis, exploring how individual motivations, relational networks and structural and socio-cultural barriers shape entrepreneurial agency. It highlights how women's ventures, often necessity-driven, sustain households, strengthen socio-economic resilience and promote relational, community-oriented and inclusive forms of leadership. Design/methodology/approach – Grounded in institutional theory, the study draws on 20 in-depth semi-structured interviews with women entrepreneurs across diverse sectors in Lebanon to examine the institutional conditions that affect them, the leadership styles they enact and the socio-economic contributions they generate. A multi-level framework captures the interplay of micro-, meso- and macro-level dynamics, providing a basis for analyzing the challenges and opportunities that shape women's entrepreneurial trajectories. Findings – This study finds that women's entrepreneurship in Lebanon is primarily driven by necessity and household responsibilities and affected by institutional collapse, limited resources and socio-cultural norms. Despite these constraints, their ventures provide vital safety nets, support livelihoods and reinforce community resilience. It also underlines that women enact leadership characterized by empathy, inclusivity and relational support. They rely on informal networks, adaptive strategies and improvisational learning to navigate systemic neglect, while making significant socio-economic contributions through job creation, household sustenance and the preservation of local markets. Originality/value – This study situates women's entrepreneurship in a fragile crisis context, challenging trait-based and Western-centric models. It frames entrepreneurship as a gendered survival strategy rooted in necessity, responsibility and adaptation. By highlighting women's dual role as socio-economic providers and community leaders, the findings offer actionable insights for designing inclusive, context- and gender-sensitive policies to support women entrepreneurs in crisis settings.