Women’s Entrepreneurship with a Sustainable Development Approach

Abstract

Women’s entrepreneurship is increasingly linked to the 2030 Agenda; however, primary empirical evidence remains scarce in Latin American settings. This study aimed to describe women-led entrepreneurship with a sustainable development approach using survey data from 200 women entrepreneurs in Lambayeque, Peru. A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional design with a descriptive–analytic scope was applied. The instrument comprised 50 items (30 categorical and 20 Likert-type) organized into five dimensions: support structure, knowledge, operational security, financial support, and social support. Findings depict a predominantly young entrepreneurial profile, strong reliance on personal savings, limited recent training, and a pronounced disconnection from public and university support programs. Likert results show higher scores for knowledge and financial support, while social support was notably weaker, suggesting a gap between individual agency and the surrounding support environment. The study provides a concise diagnostic baseline to inform evidence-based initiatives aimed at strengthening sustainable women’s entrepreneurship ecosystems in regional economies.