Shanzay Irfan2026-03-032026-03-032025https://escholar.umt.edu.pk/handle/123456789/19804This study investigates at the influence of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, on entrepreneurial intentions in pakistani women, with a focus on the mediating effects of entrepreneurial passion and moderating effects of the internal locus of control. Based on the theories of social cognitive theory, dualistic model of passion, and locus of control theory, the research utilized a quantitative cross-sectional survey of 300 women, who practiced or wanted to become an entrepreneur. The descriptive findings suggest that the perceived ees, eps, and eis are high (m = 6.84, sd = 0.14), as well as, the perceived locs (m = 5.83, sd = 0.09). Correlation analysis indicates that there are strong relationships between loc-ep (r =.979), loc-ei (r =.945) and ep ei(r=.944). Results of regression analysis with ee as the independent variable, ep as the dependent variables, and the ei as a dependent variables calculated the results of regression as the following: ee is a significant predictor of epc (b = 0.6937, p =.001), and ep is a significant predictor of ei (b = 0.1720, p =.020). Direct impact of eec on eic does not matter (b = 0.0334, p =.274), which is the confirmation of the influence indirectly through passion. The ep-ei relationship is very moderating with the level of ep-ei relationship increasing with the level of loc which is low (b = 0.3261), middle (b = 0.3775), and high (b = 0.4271). The moderated mediation index is important (0.0445; 95% ci 0.0217 0.0721), and the ecosystem effects are found to be stronger among women who have greater internal control beliefs. The results reveal the pivotal role of passion and psychological empowerment in the capability of supporting the system to become an entrepreneur through changes in enthusiasm, suggesting implications on gender-sensitive policy and entrepreneurial development interventionsenThesis