Beyond barriers: exploring support mechanisms for women entrepreneurs and leaders addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Global South

Purpose This study examines the gender-specific barriers and support mechanisms faced by women entrepreneurs and leaders who are advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in selected Global South contexts. It aims to understand how women navigate systemic challenges while developing adaptive strategies to enhance agency and equity in entrepreneurial ecosystems across South Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Design/methodology/approach The research employs a qualitative, multi-country design, drawing on semi-structured interviews and focus groups with women founders, managers, and DEI advocates from South Asia, Africa, and Latin America (N = 45 interviews; 6 focus groups). The analysis uses the startup, scaling, and leadership stages as a conceptual and analytical lens – developed for this study and informed by prior work on staged entrepreneurial activity – to structure women's entrepreneurial journeys, and maps the roles of formal and informal supports, including family, peer networks, mentorship, and digital platforms. Findings Results reveal that women entrepreneurs face persistent barriers rooted in patriarchal norms, exclusion from networks, and intersectional inequalities shaped by class, ethnicity, and local culture. Despite these obstacles, participants demonstrate adaptive and transformative strategies that leverage both local and transnational support systems. The findings highlight the interplay between community-based and digital mechanisms for advancing DEI agendas, underscoring the critical role of participatory, context-sensitive models in expanding women's agency and leadership across different stages of business development. Originality/value This study contributes to an under-examined intersection in the literature by linking women's entrepreneurship, DEI, and multi-level support ecosystems in emerging economies. It introduces an integrative framework that connects gendered and intersectional barriers with individual, family, community, and institutional support systems, informed by feminist, intersectionality, social capital, and push–pull perspectives. By comparing support mechanisms across South Asia, Africa, and Latin America and tracing barriers and supports across startup, scaling, and leadership stages, the study offers practical and policy insights for embedding inclusive approaches in management development, entrepreneurial training, and community initiatives in the Global South.