Maura McAdam

The traditional entrepreneurial narrative – shaped by male-dominated norms – doesn’t fit the reality of many women’s experiences. Common barriers for women include institutional bias, a psychological need for external validation, ‘imposter syndrome’, and practical difficulties in raising funding. They often combine to force women to think they need ‘permission’ before starting a business. So, what if you stopped waiting for permission and started claiming your place in the entrepreneurial world? Permission Granted is not just another business book – it’s a bold, practical guide for women who are ready to disrupt, defy, and rewrite the rules of entrepreneurship. Drawing on over 30,000 hours of research and interviews with more than 300 female entrepreneurs across the globe, Professor Maura McAdam distils decades of evidence-based insights into eight powerful Calls-to-Action (CTAs), each designed to help women start, build, and grow thriving businesses. This is not theory for theory’s sake – it’s hands-on, actionable, and deeply rooted in real-world experience. Structured in three parts – Permission to Start, Permission to Build, and Permission to Grow – this book meets you where you are, whether you’re considering the leap, building your first venture, or scaling for growth. Each chapter combines research-backed strategies, pragmatic steps you can implement immediately, and ‘Words from the Wise’ from pioneering women entrepreneurs. In this book: Silence the inner voice that says, “Wait for permission” Embrace your entrepreneurial identity Leverage your unique strengths to succeed on your terms Master the digital landscape Navigate funding challenges Build networks that work Cultivate a growth mindset Wherever you begin, you’ll find actionable insights to help you think bigger, act bolder, and embrace the permission you already have. Stop asking. Start doing. The time is now. About the Author: Maura McAdam, PhD, is a professor, researcher, coach, and accredited NLP Master Practitioner. For over two decades, she has translated her globally recognised research on entrepreneurship and leadership into practical guidance for real-world use. Consistently recognised among the top 2% of scientists worldwide for research impact, Maura is a leading voice in women’s entrepreneurship. In this, her first book for a wider audience, she blends evidence-based insight with real-world experience to offer practical, transformative strategies.

Entrepreneurship is a diverse research phenomenon which demands a multiplicity approach to aid understanding. However, despite the multi-disciplinary nature of entrepreneurship, dualistic perspectives have emerged including quantitative and qualitative; western and non-western; Europe and US, which are apparent within entrepreneurship research. Researching Entrepreneurship argues that a critically reflexive approach is required in order to capture the messy, heterogeneous and complex nature of entrepreneurship. Accordingly, Researching Entrepreneurship challenges the researcher to take a step back in order to ask more fundamental questions prior to engaging in data collection – thus drawing attention to the critical aspects of philosophical perspectives and underpinnings. This is necessary as the substitution of the word methodology for the word method has resulted in the two terms being used interchangeably. From such a position, it is then possible to explore the "taken for granted" norms of entrepreneurship scholarship and methodological myths which currently dominant entrepreneurship research. Indeed, in order to facilitate further theoretical and empirical development within the field then quite clearly, appropriate attention to philosophical underpinnings is necessary to reflect the idiosyncratic contextual nature of entrepreneurship. Aimed at academics, researchers and advanced students in the field of Entrepreneurship, Researching Entrepreneurship will adapt a critical perspective in relation to epistemological and ontological assumptions which currently shape the entrepreneurship research agenda. It will seek and challenge dualistic perspectives including quantitative and qualitative; western and non-western; Europe and US which are apparent with entrepreneurship research and place greater emphasis on the appropriateness of methodological selection in relation to research aims and objectives.

Drawing on the entrepreneurial ecosystem as a frame of reference, this new edition of Female Entrepreneurship – Women’s Entrepreneurship – continues to challenge contemporary assumptions regarding who or what is an entrepreneur. It draws upon relevant literature and research to enable research-led teaching delivery and provides students with a comprehensive understanding of women’s entrepreneurship and a solid foundation from which they can pursue further studies. Informative but concise, Women’s Entrepreneurship covers key concepts, issues, themes and approaches and provides useful suggested topics for debate. Updates include a revised chapter on Emerging Technologies and Women’s Entrepreneurship, which explores digital entrepreneurship and cyberfeminism. Contextualisation of Women’s Entrepreneurship acknowledges the broader contextual influences on women’s entrepreneurship. Finally, two new chapters have been added looking at The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Women’s Entrepreneurship Policy. International case studies explore the socio-economic context for women’s entrepreneurship in regional, national and international economies. Pedagogy to aid learning is incorporated throughout, including learning outcomes, boxes to highlight key research insights and best practice as well as discussion points and activities. This book is important supplementary reading on entrepreneurship, small business management and women's and gender studies courses – it will prove particularly useful to women moving towards starting their own business as well as postgraduate students researching the topic for the first time.

Drawing on the entrepreneurial ecosystem as a frame of reference, this new edition of Female Entrepreneurship – Women’s Entrepreneurship – continues to challenge contemporary assumptions regarding who or what is an entrepreneur. It draws upon relevant literature and research to enable research-led teaching delivery and provides students with a comprehensive understanding of women’s entrepreneurship and a solid foundation from which they can pursue further studies. Informative but concise, Women’s Entrepreneurship covers key concepts, issues, themes and approaches and provides useful suggested topics for debate. Updates include a revised chapter on Emerging Technologies and Women’s Entrepreneurship, which explores digital entrepreneurship and cyberfeminism. Contextualisation of Women’s Entrepreneurship acknowledges the broader contextual influences on women’s entrepreneurship. Finally, two new chapters have been added looking at The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Women’s Entrepreneurship Policy. International case studies explore the socio-economic context for women’s entrepreneurship in regional, national and international economies. Pedagogy to aid learning is incorporated throughout, including learning outcomes, boxes to highlight key research insights and best practice as well as discussion points and activities. This book is important supplementary reading on entrepreneurship, small business management and women's and gender studies courses – it will prove particularly useful to women moving towards starting their own business as well as postgraduate students researching the topic for the first time.