Innovative Women Entrepreneurs in the Green Economy: Two Case Studies from Mauritius

Women make up 51% of the population of Mauritius, but only a very small percentage manages to emerge as entrepreneurs. Contextual inquiry was conducted with two women, both green entrepreneurs, to understand their motivations, business model and the socio-economic impacts of their enterprises. These two women are from completely different social backgrounds, have different levels of formal education, which makes their cases and their business approaches all the more unique and interesting. Both women have lifted other women—the nurturers of future generations—out of deprivation and poverty enabling their families to live with dignity and enhanced financial security. This paper is a narrative of how two women, having espoused sustainable business practices, have successfully grown businesses that are capable of exporting duly certified green products to the most demanding and highly competitive global markets. The concept of sustainability (people, planet, profit) underpinned the key aspects of their business, which proves that sustainability can be a positive driver of innovation and socio-economic change.