Women’s leadership success factors in the Baltic states

Abstract

Women make up almost 50 percent of all workforce in the European Union, but their average hourly rate is 16.3 percent lower than men’s. In 2016, only in 21 companies out of 500 women held executive positions. In entrepreneurship statistics based on the founder’s gender, women make up only 34.4 percent of independently working employees and 30 percent of business founders. More women than men possess higher education, but only a small part of women hold executive positions or make a decision to establish own business. This study seeks complexly to evaluate crucial factors of women’s leadership success in e-business in the Baltic States. To achieve the purpose of this study, analysis of scientific literature, expert evaluation and multiple criteria assessment were applied. During the study, it was determined that passion for work, professional knowledge, ability to motivate team, communication, and support have most impact on successful women’s leadership.