Pakistani online media is shaping the public image and perceived leadership of women entrepreneurs, particularly in the digital-age startup ecosystem. Despite a surge in women-led enterprises, a significant gender gap persists in funding and senior visibility. This study aims to investigate the professional and strategic framing of female founders, assessing whether media narratives position them as disruptive business minds or primarily focus on socio-cultural achievements. Employing a qualitative content analysis approach, this research collected a stratified random sample of 50 articles from the business and technology sections of major English-language online news sources. Articles were coded across three key categories: Framing Type, Leadership Attributes, and Visual Representation. This systematic methodology allowed for an objective assessment of media's role in defining Entrepreneurship leadership. The analysis reveals a distinct strategic narrative imbalance in the portrayal of Pakistani women entrepreneurs. While the prevalent use of the "Success Story" framing is supportive and encourages Entrepreneurship participation, a consistent pattern emerges where the attributes emphasized are rooted in the personal or socio-cultural context of the founder. This imbalance suggests a journalistic tendency to focus on the inspirational "journey", highlighting the struggle and overcoming of non-business obstacles rather than the core professional expertise and strategic rigor necessary for business success. The study concludes that Pakistani media is effectively boosting the visibility of women in Entrepreneurship but employs a narrative strategy that frames their success through a predominantly socio-cultural lens, rather than a pure Strategic Leadership one. This emphasis risks downplaying the professional rigor and strategic contribution of women founders in the eyes of investors and the broader business community. To foster a truly equitable ecosystem, a deliberate, collaborative shift in media and public institutional narratives is required to highlight the professional and strategic decision-making process of these women, solidifying their image as credible industry leaders.
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The Digital-Age Woman Entrepreneur as a Role Model: A Content Analysis of Media Representation and Leadership Framing in Pakistani Online News
Published:
30 January 2026
by MDPI
in The 1st International Online Conference on Administrative Sciences
session Entrepreneurship
Abstract:
Keywords: entrepreneurship; woman entrepreneur, digital age, content analysis
