Women Leaders in Social Enterprise : An Upper Echelons Perspectives on Driving Health and Social Welfare Initiatives

Khan, Hina and Khan, Huda and Ghauri, Pervez (2025) Women Leaders in Social Enterprise : An Upper Echelons Perspectives on Driving Health and Social Welfare Initiatives. In: 2025 Global Marketing Conference, 2025-07-24 - 2025-07-27, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong.

Abstract

Women Leaders in Social Enterprises: An Upper Echelons Perspective on Driving Health and Social Welfare Initiatives Extended Abstract This study focuses on the crucial influence of women in leading and shaping social welfare programmes designed for vulnerable women in Pakistan. Employing a qualitative methodology, it features in-depth interviews with female leaders in these initiatives, coupled with a thematic analysis of their stories and experiences. The research reveals how women, through their unique perspectives and empathetic approaches, tailor social welfare strategies to meet the intricate needs of female beneficiaries effectively. There are limited management studies that have specifically considered the role of women in societal issues (Bannò et al., 2023). Those which considered women leadership have predominantly considered aspects like their usage of scarce resources towards social projects (Johnsen et al., 2017) and mainly issues like sustainability reporting (Arayssi et al., 2016) environmental sustainability (Atif et al., 2021). The present study highlights a notable gap in existing literature pertaining to the lack of comprehensive analysis on how female leadership impacts the efficiency and long-term viability of social welfare programmes in Pakistan where societal challenges are often largely prevalent. Applying upper-echelon’ theoretical perspective which argues that leadership team composition and characteristics matters in firm’s activities (Hambrick & Mason, 1984), the core contribution of this paper lies in its detailed exploration of the ways women's leadership promotes community solidarity, empowerment, and culturally sensitive solutions within social welfare. It underscores the necessity of integrating women's insights and leadership skills into the development of social welfare programmes, arguing that such inclusion can bridge significant literature gaps and enhance the effectiveness of these initiatives globally. By evaluating/spotlighting the success factors identified through the narratives of these female leaders, including local cultural knowledge, gender-sensitive practices, and inclusive decision-making, this study advocates for a transformative shift in how social welfare programmes are conceptualised and implemented. It proposes a new model that prioritises gender inclusivity and empowerment, thereby offering vital insights for crafting more responsive and impactful social welfare strategies worldwide. This research not only contributes to filling the identified literature gaps but also sets a precedent for future studies on the pivotal role of women in social welfare across the globe.