The effects of context and characteristics of women entrepreneurs on innovation performance Chávez Rivera, María Eulalia Ruiz Jiménez, Jenny María Fuentes Fuentes, María Del Mar Context Entrepreneurship Women Drawing on institutional and upper echelons theories, this study delves into the underexplored intersection of gender, context, and innovation performance among women entrepreneurs in Ecuador. Based on a sample of 45 women entrepreneurs, the study employs a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) and identifies six distinct paths to innovation performance. Contrary to initial expectations, our research findings substantiate that both institutional and social factors play a key role in fostering innovation in women-led firms in Ecuador. This innovation is facilitated by establishing close and frequent interpersonal connections, as well as by the age of the female entrepreneurs. Conversely, certain individual variables traditionally associated with innovation, such as education level or prior experience, manifest only sporadically. Our research enriches the discourse in gender and innovation studies by employing a multilevel approach and provides valuable insights into female entrepreneurial leadership’s contribution to advancing developing economies. 2024-04-18T08:59:49Z 2024-04-18T08:59:49Z 2023-12-25 journal article Chávez-Rivera, M. E., Ruíz-Jiménez, J. M., & Fuentes-Fuentes, M. del M. (2024). The effects of context and characteristics of women entrepreneurs on innovation performance. BRQ Business Research Quarterly, 27(1), 73-90. https://doi.org/10.1177/23409444231220951 https://hdl.handle.net/10481/90867 10.1177/23409444231220951 eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ open access Atribución-NoComercial 4.0 Internacional SAGE Publications