Enhancing Women's Leadership and Agency in the Context of University Spinouts and Businesses

Abstract

This paper is reporting the preliminary results of a case study at Coventry University. Using innovative methodologies, we map needs of women in academia who intend to start a university spinout/business and develop a supportive tool in line with the co-creational approach of Living Labs. Data collected at our creative workshop reveals how women struggle in a toxic masculine environment, in which they both identify external and internal barriers and difficulties in defining ‘business success’. Our suggestion to support them is to invest in Living Lab based networking opportunities, role models, and to develop a tool that models the business journey.