Women in finance increasingly eye entrepreneurship, but barriers to access persist

International Women’s Day provides an important moment to reflect on how professions can support equitable access to opportunity. Unlocking women’s entrepreneurial potential has well-documented economic benefits globally, including increased job creation, innovation, and productivity. New research suggests that more women, particularly those working in finance and accountancy, are increasingly viewing entrepreneurship as a viable career path, even as structural barriers around access to jobs, funding, and leadership opportunities remain.

Rising Entrepreneurial Ambitions Among Women in Finance

A recent survey by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) highlights a growing appetite for entrepreneurship among women professionals in India’s finance and accountancy sector. According to the findings, 64% of women working in finance and accountancy in India now aspire to become entrepreneurs, up from 56% last year.

Apart from the fact that the increase signals growing confidence among women in using accountancy and finance training as a springboard for business ownership, the narrowing gap reflects a significant shift in career confidence and long-term aspirations, even though entrepreneurial ambitions remain higher among men overall.

The survey also indicates that entrepreneurial ambition is particularly strong among younger professionals. Women from Generation Z and Millennial cohorts are showing the highest interest in pursuing business ownership, suggesting that the next wave of entrepreneurs may emerge from this demographic.

“Supporting women to translate ambition into enterprise is essential not just for equality, but for economic growth.” — Helen Brand, Chief Executive, ACCA

Helen Brand, chief executive of ACCA, said, “Entrepreneurship represents economic empowerment in action. The number of women aspiring to business ownership is an encouraging signal that finance and accountancy skills are equipping women not only to lead within organisations, but to build enterprises of their own. Accountancy provides a powerful platform for entrepreneurial success, combining financial expertise, governance, risk management, technology and strategic insight. Supporting women to translate ambition into enterprise is essential not just for equality, but for economic growth.”

Increasingly, finance professionals are seeking roles aligned with purpose, social impact, environmental sustainability, and greater personal autonomy.

Expanding Initiatives

Efforts to support women’s participation in the digital economy are also expanding. Recently, Women in Cloud expanded its university-focused Cyber Resilience Centers of Excellence and industry-ready certification initiatives across North-East India in collaboration with Veeam Software at the Bharat Cyber Suraksha, North-East Cyber Resilience and AI Transformation Summit.

These initiatives aim to equip students and professionals with skills needed to navigate an increasingly digital and AI-driven economy.

The “Navigation Gap” in the AI-Powered Economy

However, new research suggests that access alone may not be enough.

According to the Economic Access Report 2026 from Women in Cloud, there is a global “Navigation Gap” in the AI-powered economy. The report suggests that while opportunities are abundant, the pathways to jobs, funding, and leadership positions often remain unclear for many professionals, particularly women.

“Never before have so many people had access to learning platforms, certification programs, digital communities, and global opportunities. And yet, never before have so many capable individuals felt stalled. Today, we know that the biggest obstacles to economic access are not technological but navigational, financial and psychological in nature.” — Chaitra Vedullapalli, President & Co-founder, Women in Cloud

Chaitra Vedullapalli, President and Co-founder of Women in Cloud, said, “The idea to create this report stems from the fact that we do not have a reference point when it comes to investing in people and infrastructure that are aligned with economic outcomes, especially for women professionals. This report has clearly highlighted the fact that we are living through a paradox of modern economic life. Never before have so many people had access to learning platforms, certification programs, digital communities, and global opportunities. And yet, never before have so many capable individuals felt stalled. Today, we know that the biggest obstacles to economic access are not technological but navigational, financial and psychological in nature.”

The research highlights what it describes as a paradox of modern economic life. Access to AI learning platforms, certification programs, digital communities, and global opportunities has never been more visible, yet many capable professionals report feeling stalled in their career progression.

For instance, the report found that only one in ten participants can clearly see how to get hired, suggesting that the labour market increasingly resembles a maze rather than a linear career ladder. While individuals continue to accumulate new skills, two out of three respondents say they cannot see a direct pathway to employment.

Funding presents an even greater challenge. More than 56% of respondents said access to funding and entrepreneurship pathways remains completely unclear, making it the most fragile domain identified in the research.

Leadership pathways are also perceived as uncertain, with one-third of respondents saying they lack clarity about sponsorship and advancement opportunities. Although community participation is high, 26% say they do not know how to convert professional networks into referrals, capital, or business opportunities.

Persistent Gender Gaps in Skills & Leadership

Alongside structural barriers, behavioural factors also play a role in shaping women’s career trajectories. According to a study, women often undervalue their own skills, contributing to the gender wage gap more than men.

Technical skills such as C and Java programming show notable gender disparities in self-assessment, suggesting that self-perception and confidence may influence career advancement and salary outcomes.

Meanwhile, in industries such as manufacturing, gender diversity continues to present a mixed picture. A study by CIEL HR Services found that women accounted for 14% of overall workforce movements, but they were more likely than men to receive internal promotions, at 42% compared with 36% for men.

The automotive sector stood out as a relative leader in gender representation, with women making up 26% of executive hires, nearly double the industry average.

Despite this progress, leadership roles for women remain heavily concentrated in certain functions. Women leaders continue to be most represented in human resources roles (30%), indicating that greater inclusion is still needed in operations, technology, and core business leadership positions.

As women increasingly pursue entrepreneurship and leadership roles across finance, technology, and industry, the data suggests a clear shift in ambition and opportunity. However, addressing the structural barriers that limit access to funding, career pathways, and leadership roles will be essential to fully unlocking the economic potential of women in the global workforce.