The role of female leadership competencies in enhancing performance in creative Indonesian SMEs: A motivation and job satisfaction approach

This study aims to analyze the effect of female leadership competence on MSME performance, with motivation and job satisfaction mediating this effect. The research was conducted on female owners in creative sector MSMEs in East Java, Indonesia. The sample included 335 respondents. For data processing, quantitative data analysis techniques were applied via structural equation modeling (SEM) based on partial least squares (SEM-PLS). The data analysis process consisted of several stages, including the outer model, inner model, and model goodness tests. The results showed that work motivation and job satisfaction could mediate the relationship between female leadership competence and MSME performance. The practical implication of this research is that female leaders in the creative MSME sector are advised to continue developing their competencies, especially in terms of communication, empathy, and employee empowerment, to increase motivation and job satisfaction. Managing a supportive work environment, which prioritizes providing recognition and opportunities for employees to develop, can encourage greater productivity and performance. MSMEs in the creative sector should pay more attention to leadership factors to achieve long-term success.