As we approach the end of 2024, the Women Research Network (WRN) reflects on a year marked by research excellence, impactful collaborations, and forward-thinking initiatives. Together, we have built a strong foundation for a dynamic 2025, and we are excited to share some of our key achievements and upcoming plans.
2024 Highlights
1. Research Excellence and Recognition
WRN members have achieved remarkable milestones in research this year:
- Our paper, Building the Kingdom of God or Man? Heterodoxy and Legitimisation in African Neo-Pentecostal Entrepreneurialism, was nominated for the President’s Award for Best Early Career Researcher Paper at ISBE 2024.
- Another WRN-supported paper, Neo-Pentecostalism and Entrepreneurialism in the African Context: A Fusion of Religion and Capitalism? was nominated for Best Conference Paper at ISBE 2024.
- We also celebrated two Best Paper Awards in the International Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurship in Minority Groups tracks at ISBE 2024.
These achievements highlight the strength of our collective scholarship and its global resonance.
2. Conferences and Engagements
Our members made their mark at several key conferences:
Our members made significant strides in connecting academia and industry through various platforms in 2024. Notably, our bi-monthly webinars continued to provide a space for impactful discussions on issues affecting women and researchers. Topics ranged from navigating academic publishing to exploring career development opportunities.
Among these, the Meet the Editors webinar series was a standout success, featuring editors from high-ranking journals. This series offered invaluable insights into the publication process and garnered significant participation. In 2025, our webinars will maintain their bi-monthly schedule, continuing to spotlight critical issues while introducing fresh topics like AI and New Perspectives in Academic Research.
- ISBE 2024, with six papers presented and strong recognition across tracks.
- Active participation in the BAM and GWO conferences, driving conversations on gender, entrepreneurship, and inclusivity.
3. Publications
We are thrilled to announce several forthcoming book projects for 2025, commissioned and in various stages of production:
- The Palgrave Handbook of Decolonising Entrepreneurship (Palgrave Macmillan, commissioned, in production).
- The Emerald Handbook of Decolonising Sustainability, Energy Transition and Social Justice: A Global South Perspective (Emerald, commissioned, in production).
- Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Growth for Female Entrepreneurs in the Global South (Emerald, commissioned, upcoming, 2025).
- Digital Transformation, Environmental Sustainability, and Wellbeing in the Global South (Emerald, commissioned, upcoming, 2025).
These publications represent WRN’s commitment to advancing scholarship on equity, sustainability, and inclusive development.
Looking Ahead to 2025
1. Women Entrepreneurship Summit – July 2025
In July, we will host our inaugural Women Entrepreneurship Summit, bringing together women entrepreneurs, academics, and industry leaders to drive discussions on economic empowerment and innovation.
2. Entrepreneurship Colloquium – July 2025
Building on the success of this year’s event, the 2nd Entrepreneurship Colloquium will offer a platform for researchers to showcase their work, network, and inspire collaborative projects.
3. GWO 2025 Conference – Stream 24
WRN will convene Stream 24 at the upcoming Gender, Work & Organization (GWO) 2025 Conference in Nantes, focusing on ground breaking research at the intersection of gender and entrepreneurship.
Gratitude and a Shared Vision
As we celebrate our 2024 achievements, we extend heartfelt thanks to our members, collaborators, and supporters. Your contributions have been instrumental in making this year a success.
As we step into 2025, let us continue to challenge the status quo, inspire change, and create meaningful impact through research and engagement. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for women researchers and their communities worldwide.
We look forward to sharing these milestones with you and invite you to join us on this exciting journey!