Culture and gender in entrepreneurial teams: the effect on team processes and outcomes

Abstract

This study examines the role of culture in the interplay between female participation in entrepreneurial teams, team processes, and outcomes using stereotype activation, social categorization, and identity theories. Our analysis of 64 entrepreneurial teams including members from 20 countries reveals that team reflexivity mediates the relationship between the proportion of women in a team and a team’s access to resources. This effect is further enhanced when team members are from countries with a more favorable national perception of women’s entrepreneurship. Our findings further demonstrate how the proportion of women in a team and cultural perceptions towards women’s entrepreneurship can impact the quality of team processes and, consequently, a team’s access to resources. We conclude by discussing the implications of our results on women entrepreneurship, new venture teams, and culture research.