She was a pioneer in the world of science and innovation, becoming the first woman to win Nobel Prizes in two different disciplines. She changed the course of physicochemical research in the twentieth century, and her name stands out on an endless list of men who dedicated their lives to science.

Beyond her legacy, she was a clear example of how to overcome the barriers imposed in her time for the simple fact of being a woman, as she had to endure obstacles imposed by a sexist society that did not make way for women in the scientific and university communities.

Despite this encouraging fact, it is disheartening to see that today, in the twenty-first century, only 30% of researchers in the world are women. Although there has been great progress for their inclusion in this type of field, there is still a long way to go.

At this point, we should ask ourselves why we have these figures, as they’re not entirely satisfactory. We should be concerned about this because the lack of women in science has a series of implications, especially as regards the quality and improvement of scientific excellence.

According to the GEM (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, 2021-2022) Report, there are still 50% fewer initiatives of medium and high technological value led by women than by men. This represents a divide in entrepreneurship with a high added value, since the creativity and entrepreneurial potential of women are a source of economic growth and employment opportunities that is still untapped and which we must promote.

What factors are influencing innovative female entrepreneurship?

There are several factors that have been shown to affect innovative female entrepreneurship, and they are structural, social, and cultural in nature. They provide us with information about business objectives, activity sectors, entrepreneurship training, and previous professional experience.

If we take a look at the sectors chosen to undertake business activities, we see that it reflects many differences between men and women. This is a choice the shapes the characteristics of female entrepreneurship, especially affecting the size of female businesses, as well as their ability to grow, internationalize, and access financing sources. This translates into a significant hurdle when it comes to tackling activities in sectors that require heavy investment (like Tech), and these sectors are precisely where women are less present.

A lack of balance in terms of reconciling one’s family and professional life is also one of the difficult challenges to solve. As most companies don’t have internal policies favoring responsible work and helping to promote remote or hybrid work (50% remote working and 50% in-person) in order to nurture a balance between personal and professional life, female professionals may find themselves forced to focus on sectors that require less intense dedication.

Regarding training, there is research showing that female professionals with higher educational levels perform better, especially if they obtain degrees in a STEAM field. Perhaps it’s not so much educational levels, but rather the lack of female role models that prevents many women from taking the plunge, as it’s essential that there be someone to look up to and be inspired by.

Stereotypes and barriers to financing hinder the start-up of businesses and entrepreneurship on a larger scale.

A FUTURE WITH A PERSPECTIVE

As Marie Curie stated, the path towards progress is neither quick nor easy, and we’re seeing that the development of female entrepreneurship is important because there will be no innovation or progress without racial, cultural, and gender diversity.

Women are not a minority; they represent 50% of the population and, therefore, half of its potential. They will help us to reduce gender gaps and to enjoy a more egalitarian and plural society in terms of ideas, businesses, and opportunities.

Thus, the fact that there are women like Marie Curie, with entrepreneurial ambitions, will be essential to making women more visible in terms of innovative entrepreneurship, considering that aptitude and leadership skills are not questions of gender.