A Thematic and Descriptive Content Analysis of Female Entrepreneurship and Innovation Based on the Podcast “Silver Lining for Learning

Abstract

Women’s entrepreneurship has become a critical component of global economic development, contributing significantly to job creation, innovation, and poverty reduction (Brush et al., 2019). This study explores how EdTech supports women’s entrepreneurship and educational empowerment across diverse contexts. Women entrepreneurs often face multiple barriers, including limited access to funding, mentorship, and educational opportunities, which constrain their economic and personal growth. The study aims to identify success factors, barriers, and effective strategies for leveraging EdTech to foster women’s entrepreneurship and innovation. A qualitative research design was adopted, focusing on selected episodes from the Silver Lining for Learning podcast that feature women-led initiatives in EdTech. Episodes were selected through purposive (criterion-based) sampling, following a PRISMA-guided systematic screening of the full archive. The six-step thematic analysis coding process was applied using MAXQDA, guided by the Gender Lens and Thematic Network framework. Findings indicate that women’s empowerment in education and entrepreneurship is shaped by a combination of success factors, barriers, and effective strategies. Skill-building, self-empowerment, access and inclusion strategies, and active learning approaches emerged as central enablers. Women faced barriers such as limited resources, time constraints, financial challenges, and connectivity issues. The analysis shows that when practical skills, supportive systems, and flexible learning opportunities come together, women are better able to overcome these challenges. It also demonstrates that combining skills and experiences, and resourcefulness, leads to sustainable empowerment outcomes. Although the study focused on a selected number of podcast episodes, it provides valuable insights into the potential of EdTech to enhance women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship. The findings offer practical guidance for designing inclusive, technologybased interventions that promote economic independence, skill development, and participation in entrepreneurial activities for women and marginalized groups.