Women-entrepreneurship, religiosity, and value-co-creation with ethnic consumers: revisiting the paradox

Abstract

The notion of value co-creation has been a well-established phenomenon in strategic marketing. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of studies that specifically link this to women entrepreneurship and religiosity. This is the lacuna filled by this paper which is interpretive in nature and based on 11 in-depth interviews and 1 focus group discussion data collected from women that are members of Pentecostal faith-based organisations in London. While the paper shows many interconnected challenges faced in black African women entrepreneurship, it also pinpoints the principal role of spirituality in fostering value co-creation between these women, their customers and their religious establishments. The research shows a rebuttal of the paradox of religion and entrepreneurship, specifically in women entrepreneurship. Apart from its theoretical implication of updating the literature on the discourse around entrepreneurship marketing, religiosity and ethnic minority businesses; its managerial implications revolve around exploring sociocultural groups to foster women entrepreneurship and economic growth.