Women entrepreneurship theory through digital workplace innovation: a new concept

Purpose Women entrepreneurship has had a place in enterprise literature in recent years with reference to gender equality and women empowerment. Yet, except for a JMD article in 2024, there has been little theorizing on women entrepreneurship, which is often disparaged as a sub-construct of general entrepreneurship. The purpose of this research is to update and refine the construct, elaborating the characteristics of women entrepreneurship through the lens of digital workplace innovation (DWI). Design/methodology/approach Following the Interpretivism and inductive reasoning approach, the current research conducts an integrated analysis of women entrepreneurs and cognate entrepreneurship themes. We first scrutinize the theoretical evolution of women entrepreneurship through both classical and contemporary perspectives. We then adopt DWI to evaluate and discuss the development and implementation of women entrepreneurship, using the compilation of four meta-analysis projects (Database: 12,281 publications from 1975 to 2025; 50 years). Findings The majority of women entrepreneurship literature has not incorporated DWI into the theorization, or merely viewed it as a peripheral factor. To elaborate on the construct of women entrepreneurship, we thus develop and validate a new theory of women entrepreneurship, clarifying how DWI helps break through the barriers and combat discrimination against women entrepreneurs. Different from mainstream theories, the new theory highlights a DWI-embedded opportunity to the prospective women entrepreneurs. The contributions of incumbent women entrepreneurs in entrepreneurial development, promotion and education are revealed in theory. Practical implications With a better theory of women entrepreneurship, consultants and educators can help both prospective and incumbent entrepreneurs update their understanding of entrepreneurship through the lens of DWI. New theory also helps individuals and organizations address a major aid to women entrepreneurship development. Originality/value The new theory offers an insightful understanding of how “digital workplace innovation” may motivate women to learn and develop their entrepreneurship. Research findings also contribute to more comprehensive and effective initiatives that foster gender equality, work–life balance and leadership opportunities in the women entrepreneurial context. Highlights