Women Empowerment and Managerial Leadership in Terengganu’s Agro-Industry Sector: A Qualitative Inquiry into Entrepreneurial Innovation

This study explores the experiences, leadership styles, and empowerment dynamics of women agropreneurs in Terengganu’s agro-industry sector through a qualitative phenomenological approach. Drawing on Empowerment Theory and Transformational Leadership Theory, the research investigates how personal agency, socio-cultural norms, and institutional support intersect to shape women’s roles as entrepreneurs and community leaders. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and participant observation with 20 purposively sampled women from various agro-industrial sectors, including food processing, aquaculture, herbal products, and traditional crafts. Thematic analysis revealed three dominant themes: empowerment through innovation, leadership identity, and the dual role of cultural expectations as both barriers and motivators. Participants demonstrated strong participative and transformational leadership traits, often embedded within familial responsibilities and community values. Despite challenges such as limited access to capital, male-dominated networks, and lack of formal mentorship, many women leveraged government training, cooperative support, and traditional knowledge to build sustainable businesses and gain leadership legitimacy. The study’s findings affirm that women’s empowerment in rural agro-industrial contexts is not solely dependent on economic access, but also on the ability to navigate and reshape cultural narratives. Policy recommendations include expanding culturally responsive leadership training, improving access to digital marketing tools, and institutionalizing inclusive cooperative frameworks. This research contributes to the academic discourse on gender, entrepreneurship, and rural development, offering practical insights for policymakers, NGOs, and educators aiming to foster inclusive and sustainable agro-industrial growth in Malaysia.