Exploring Motivation and Success Among Canadian Women Entrepreneurs (Survey‪)‬

Introduction Canadian women's entrance into self-employment and small business ownership in recent years has been nothing short of dramatic. In a relatively short period of time, they have established themselves as a formidable presence, contributing an estimated $18 billion to the Canadian economy and attracting much attention from policy makers and academic researchers alike (Canada, 2003). While many women thrive in entrepreneurial work--earning good incomes and building vibrant businesses--not all women achieve high levels of financial success. Instead there is growing evidence of diversity among Canadian women entrepreneurs, (1) both in terms of their economic performance and success, as well as their motivations for pursuing their own business (see for example Cliff and Cash, 2005; Fischer et al., 1993; Hughes, 2005; Orser, 2004).