Written by a team of researchers based in prestigious business schools and universities on almost every continent, this important book begins the process of discovering why and how female driven business start-ups often seem to spontaneously emerge in adverse environments. Is it randomness, luck, or chance that determines success or failure, or vital critical forces and the inherent qualities of the women involved? The research emerging from the Female Immigrant Entrepreneurship (FIE) project discusses the integration of immigrant communities, their interaction with host economic and business environments, and the role of women in that interaction.

Contents: Foreword; Preface; Part I Introduction: The evolution of researching female immigrant entrepreneurship: a commentary, Daphne Halkias and Sylva M. Caracatsanis. Part II Asia and the Pacific Region: India: female immigrant entrepreneurship in Utta Pradesh, Geetika Goel, Shefali Nandan, Meenakshi Rishi, Johanna Liasides and Barbara Kondilis; India: female immigrant entrepreneurship in New Delhi, Amit Pal Singh Chhabra, Meenakshi Rishi, Nicholas Harkiolakis and Sylva M. Caracatsanis; Japan: female immigrant entrepreneurship in Tokyo, Sonya Billore, Dato' Prof Ahmad Hj Zainuddin, Norashfah Hanim, Yaakop Yahaya Al-Haj and Daphne Halkias; Hong Kong: female immigrant entrepreneurs from mainland China, Stella So, Lara Mourad and Joanne Anast; Where East meets West: female immigrant entrepreneurs in Lebanon, Janine Saba Zakka, Sylva M. Caracatsanis, Lara Mourad, Nicholas Harkiolakis and Antonis Antoniou; New Zealand: Chinese women at the forefront of immigrant entrepreneurship, Franco Vaccarino, Marianne Tremaine, Joanne Anast and Penelope Robotis; United Arab Emirates: female immigrant entrepreneurship at the multicultural crossroad of the Arab world, Baker Ahmad Alserhan, Nicholas Harkiolakis, Sam Abadir, Lambros Ekonomou and Lara Mourad. Part III Africa: Nigeria: female immigrant entrepreneurship in Western Africa, Chinedum Nwajiuba, Nicholas Harkiolakis, Paul Thurman, Daphne Halkias and Sylva Caracatsanis; Mediterranean female immigrants in South Africa: a case study of love of adopted country and longevity in entrepreneurship, Paul W. Thurman, Melodi Botha, Joanne Anast and Daphne Halkias. Part IV Europe: Cyprus: female immigrant entrepreneurship in Mediterranean Europe, Ioannis Violaris, Danae Harmandas and Yiannos Loizides; United Kingdom: the rise of South Asian female entrepreneurship, Daphne Halkias, Shehla Arifeen and Lara Mourad; France: female immigrants enrich their new home an entrepreneurial spirit, Nicholas Harkiolakis, Sylva M. Caracatsanis, Sam Abadir and Lara Mourad; Greece: from migrant-sender to immigrant-receiver, Daphne Halkias, Sylva M. Caracatsanis, Nicholas Harkiolakis, Paul W. Thurman and Patrick D. Akrivos. Part V The Americas: Life chronicles of female immigrant entrepreneurs in Argentina, Nicholas Cha, Sylva M. Caracatsanis and Konstantina Polideras; Biographical narratives from female immigrant entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, California, Rebecca Hwang, Jennifer Sequiera, Lara Mourad and Shaherose Charania; Canada: the Greek female entrepreneurs of Montreal, Konstantina Polideras, Sam Abadir, Penelope Robotis and Daphne Halkias; Brazilian female immigrant entrepreneurs in Massachusetts and California, M. Glória de Sá, Viviane Gontijo, Joanne Anast and Lara Mourad; The Portuguese female immigrant entrepreneurs in New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA, M. Glória de Sá, Jennifer Sequiera and Sylva Caracatsanis; New York City, USA: the interplay among multiple cultures, work ethic and success factors in female immigrant small businesses, Paul W. Thurman; New York and Pennsylvania, USA: Nigerian female entrepreneurs, John O. Okpara, Sylva M. Caracatsanis, Nicholas Harkiolakis and Garry Clayton; Female immigrant entrepreneurship in South Carolina, USA, Jean-Luc E. Grosso and Teresa L. Smith. Epilogue: the challenges ahead for female immigrant entrepreneurs, Daphne Halkias, Paul W. Thurman and Sam Abadir; Appendix; Index.