Assessing Factors Affecting Successes of Women Leadership in Large Private Owned - Business: The Case of Hilina Enriched Foods PLC

This study was undertaken to assess factors that affect successes of women leaders who are engaged in large private owned business. To this effect, the study provides information on factors that challenge women leaders in starting and growing their business in Addis Ababa by taking one large business company as a sample. The general aim of this study is to give better insight, understanding and assessing factors affecting the success of women leadership in large private owned business in Addis Ababa. A sample of 105 respondents who were engaged in the company was considered for the study using stratified simple random sampling. In an attempt to providing, answer to the basic research questions a questionnaire with close & open - ended questions were prepared and distributed. The questionnaire has included demographic factors, reason for starting business, challenges encountered, successes and success indicators of women leadership in business. Purposely selected 2 top managers were participated in the interview. The results of the study indicated that personal, socio demographic, economic, and socio cultural factors are the major success factors of women leaders in business that have significantly affect their performance. Furthermore, technological, motivational and promotional factors are considered as minor success factors and have significant effect on success indicators in this study. In general, based on the regression result, the success factors determine 0.2% of effect on women leadership success in business in Addis Ababa. The main recommendations are that the company should focus to do on promotional work, personality development (business leadership skill), work life balance, etc. to ensure long term success,