Gaining legitimacy through proactive stakeholder management: The Experiences of high-tech women entrepreneurs in Russia

Abstract: In this article, we offer insights into the critical role played by stakeholder relationships for female-owned high-technology firms in their pursuit of the legitimacy they need to acquire the resources that, in turn, will lead to sustainable innovation and firm growth. By reporting the findings drawn from interviews conducted with Russian female business owners, we showcase how, being faced with the liabilities of smallness and newness—which are further exacerbated by gender-associated liabilities—these entrepreneurs develop strategies suited to assist their entrepreneurial ventures. Within the nascent hightechnology global sphere, these female entrepreneurs develop legitimacy for their ventures abroad by accessing external international stakeholders, which leads them to securing much-needed financial and knowledge resources. In addition, their ties with international stakeholders enable them to gain legitimacy among internal Russian stakeholders, thus further enhancing the innovation and performance of their ventures.