International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology (IJEAT) ISSN: 2249 – 8958, Volume-8 Issue-5C, May 2019 604 Published By: Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering & Sciences Publication Retrieval Number:E10860585C19/2019©BEIESP DOI: 10.35940/ijeat.E1086.0585C19 ABSTRACT--- The purpose of the study is to explore factors contributing to the success of women who embarked in entrepreneurship. The study was conducted on 150 women entrepreneur in Malaysia by distributing the survey questionnaire. using convenience sampling. The study found charisma and friendliness are the most crucial factors contributes to the success of women entrepreneur while government support is the least contributing factor. Factor analysis conducted on success factors of women entrepreneur in Malaysia categorized the factors into four constructs; Individual & Social Characteristic, Marketing & Business Support, Efficient Management and Customer Engagement. The study found that Customer Engagement Factor contribute the most to the success of women entrepreneur in Malaysia. Keywords: Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, Success Factors, Women Entrepreneur. I. INTRODUCTION Entrepreneurs are known globally to be the utmost importance to the economy as many of its main activities act as economy's engine, enacting and empowering all monetary action. Entrepreneurs are catalyst agent for expansion and promotion of economic activities in every scope of economic life of a country with the introduction of new combinations, improvise on existing productive resources and at the same time create job opportunities to the society (1). The heart of any country’s economy is the entrepreneur where investment in entrepreneurship provides greater chance towards an improved economy (2). Entrepreneurs refers to people who propose in starting business by organizing, managing and taking risk (3). Entrepreneurship has been acknowledged as one of the crucial aspects for many developing countries and is the engine of economic development in the past years as well as the foreseeable future. Entrepreneurship refers to indi vidual’s ability in identifying and discovering opportunity which gives benefit to the society (4). Entrepreneurship involved the creation of something new with added value by putting extra effort and time which comes with financial and social risks resulted in monetary rewards monetary and personal satisfaction (5) while (6) described entrepreneurship involves discover, evaluate and exploit opportunities with the intention to develop and come out with new goods and services. Revised Manuscript Received on April 19, 2019. Azlin Shafinaz Arshad, Malaysian Academy of SME & Entrepreneurship Development, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. Marziah Mokhtar, Centre of Foundation Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. Afiza Azura Arshad, Faculty of Business Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. Arlinah Abdul Rashid, Arshad Ayub Graduate Business School, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. Entrepreneurship has been acknowledged as engine for economic development and is a catalytic agent especially in expanding and promoting for business activities all over the world (4). This is supported where entrepreneurship is among the core areas for any country’s economy (7). The importance of entrepreneurial activities cannot be denied as entrepreneurial activities are recognized as among the crucial sources for economic growth and employment opportunities for many nations (8). Although many researchers have put much effort to study entrepreneurship in Malaysia, not many studies focused into women (9-11). Hence, this study aim to explore factors that contribute to the success of women entrepreneurs in Malaysia. Studying factors which have an influence towards women entrepreneur success allows others to have a broader understanding of how to ensure the business success (12). In addition, this study will assist women entrepreneurs to expand their business globally. II. LITERATURE REVIEW Although several studies on the success factors of women entrepreneur around the world has been undertaken, studies on women entrepreneur in Malaysia are still insufficient. Some of the factors that were found influencing women entrepreneur success are human capital, networking, financial assistance and opportunity. (13) focuses on characteristics such need for achievement, risk taking, self- confidence and creative and innovative that lead to women entrepreneur success while (14) looked into risk-taking, innovativeness and entrepreneurial competencies of women entrepreneur itself as contributor factors to success. Women entrepreneurs in ASEAN countries are on the rise and many studies were conducted in ASEAN countries to find the motives behind the success of women entrepreneurs. An empirical study in Singapore revealed the reasons that inspire women to own a business and found higher need for achievement, higher need for dominance and moderate needs for affiliation and autonomy are among the success factors (15). Study on women entrepreneurs in Quang Tri Province, Central Vietnam discovered women business owner success is due to the values they possessed and their insights towards entrepreneurship (16). Study conducted in Indonesia on motivation of entrepreneurs found family members influences and their participation do have an impact towards their business success (17) while another study found among the challenges of women Exploring Factors Contributing to the Success of Women Entrepreneurs in Malaysia Azlin Shafinaz Arshad, Marziah Mokhtar, Afiza Azura Arshad, Arlinah Abdul Rashid