Two lecturers in the Department of Business Studies at DkIT, Angela Hamouda, and Dr Kate Johnston have both contributed chapters in a new book titled Gendering Entrepreneurial Ecosystems- Levelling the Field, due to be launched by Routledge Taylor & Francis Group in February 2025.

Both lecturers contributed to a chapter titled Ireland’s Gen Y Female Entrepreneurs and the Mismatch of the Enterprise Ecosystem. The research was compiled along with Dr Bronwyn Wood at College of Business and Economics – UAEU and Rebecca Nevins, a graduate from DkIT’s MBS programme. Nevins contributed to the research during her time at DkIT.

The rise of Generation Y has sparked renewed discussions on value creation and entrepreneurship, with this tech-savvy, socially conscious generation focused on making a positive impact. The research by Hamouda, Johnston, Wood and Nevins explores insights into these entrepreneurs and the implications for developing suitable training and support.

Gendering Entrepreneurial Ecosystems- Levelling the Field, explores the growing interest in entrepreneurial ecosystems, which often assumes that all entrepreneurs have equal access to resources, opportunities, and support. However, women remain underrepresented in successful entrepreneurial ecosystems, and a persistent gender bias continues to shape their experiences. This bias is reflected in assumptions about the "typical" entrepreneur, where successful female entrepreneurs are rarely recognised or celebrated in the same way as their male counterparts. This illustrates how entrepreneurship is gendered, with implications for resource access and chances of success. The entrepreneurial ecosystem is not a level playing field.

The book provides valuable insights into how to address the gendered challenges that are problematic for both individuals and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through an analysis of strategies to make ecosystems more inclusive, the chapters collectively examine the impact of gender dynamics and introduce innovative methods for fostering inclusivity. Drawing on global examples, the book highlights key actors and factors that contribute to building gender-inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Speaking about the upcoming launch of the book, Angela Hamouda said:

“I’m delighted to have been involved in this new book which adds significantly to the plethora of work supporting women and entrepreneurship and platforms the importance for policy makers to continue to work to improve the Ecosystem to encourage and sustain women entrepreneurs. Thank you to my co-authors Dr Bronwyn Wood at College of Business and Economics – UAEU and Dr Kate Johnston at Dundalk Institute of Technology, Ireland.”

Dr Kate Johnston added:

"I was delighted to have been part of the research team with Angela, Browyn and Rebecca. Gen Y are emerging as an enigmatic cohort that is redefining our view of the Entrepreneur. This research will hopefully lead to further discussion in this area, but also drive policy changes in creating a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem."