AI-Driven Personal Branding for Female Entrepreneurs: The Indonesian Hijabi Startup Ecosystem

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This article offers a compelling and timely contribution to the intersection of artificial intelligence, personal branding, and female entrepreneurship within the Indonesian hijabi startup ecosystem. Its core strength lies in its rigorous mixed-methods design, which integrates sentiment analysis of over 2,800 social media posts, in-depth interviews, and bespoke AI model development, resulting in rich empirical insights. The introduction and literature review are well-structured and draw on a robust theoretical framework, encompassing personal branding, Islamic identity, AI ethics, and gendered entrepreneurship. Notably, the proposed “Halal Personal Branding Framework” is a significant theoretical innovation, extending traditional branding theory by embedding religious authenticity as a value-added component rather than a constraint. The study is methodologically sound and ethically conscious, with explicit attention to cultural sensitivity, participant agency, and algorithmic fairness. The integration of Islamic values into AI-driven communication strategies is both novel and socially relevant, especially in light of concerns about algorithmic bias and digital marginalization of religious minorities. However, while the study is exemplary in its Indonesian context, its generalizability to other Muslim or minority entrepreneurial settings remains to be further explored, a limitation the authors themselves acknowledge. Additionally, while the visual branding and language analysis are insightful, further triangulation with investor perception or consumer behavior studies would strengthen the claim that religious identity enhances rather than inhibits market performance. Overall, this article makes a substantial contribution to entrepreneurship communication theory, AI ethics, and digital inclusion policy, and would be a valuable addition to scholarly discussions in journals concerned with media, technology, and identity

Despite its many strengths, the article presents several limitations that warrant attention. First, the geographic focus on Indonesia, while justifiable given the country’s Muslim-majority demographic and dynamic startup ecosystem, inherently limits the generalizability of the findings. The study does not provide comparative perspectives from minority Muslim entrepreneurs in secular or non-Muslim contexts, thereby narrowing the scope of its theoretical implications. Future research should incorporate cross-national case studies to assess whether the proposed Halal Personal Branding Framework is adaptable beyond Indonesia.

Second, although the study features robust qualitative and quantitative data, there is a potential bias toward successful entrepreneurs, which introduces a form of survivorship bias. The experiences of failed or struggling hijabi entrepreneurs are not accounted for, limiting the understanding of the barriers and vulnerabilities that may undermine the effectiveness of AI-driven branding strategies. It is recommended that future research adopt a more balanced sample, incorporating narratives of entrepreneurs across various performance outcomes.

Third, the analysis relies heavily on social media-based metrics (engagement rates, sentiment scores, hashtag use), which, while informative, may not fully capture the offline dimensions of personal branding, such as face-to-face investor relations, community interactions, or institutional barriers. A more holistic assessment of branding effectiveness should include offline communication channels, especially in culturally nuanced environments where social capital and verbal trust still matter.

Fourth, while the article proposes a culturally sensitive AI model and claims high accuracy through validation, the technical details of the algorithm’s architecture, training data composition, and bias mitigation techniques are not sufficiently disclosed. This transparency is crucial to assessing the replicability and ethical robustness of the model. It is advised that future iterations include a more detailed technical appendix or supplementary materials for AI specialists and interdisciplinary readers.

Lastly, although the framework integrates Islamic values with digital branding effectively, consumer and investor perspectives are inferred indirectly through engagement metrics and funding data rather than directly explored. This risks over-attributing causality to branding strategies without interrogating how external stakeholders perceive or react to religious identity markers. Incorporating stakeholder interviews or experiments could substantiate the claim that religious identity enhances rather than constrains funding and market access.

 

 

Author Response

Dear Editor and Reviewers,

We express our sincere gratitude for the thoughtful and constructive feedback provided by both reviewers. Their comprehensive comments have significantly enhanced the quality and rigor of our manuscript. We have carefully considered each suggestion and implemented substantial revisions throughout the paper to address all concerns raised.

We have implemented a clear visual tracking system in the revised manuscript to facilitate the review process and ensure transparency in our revision approach. All revisions addressing Reviewer 1's feedback are marked in red, while all changes responding to Reviewer 2's comments are highlighted in blue. This color-coding system easily identifies how we have addressed each reviewer's concerns and recommendations.

Regarding Reviewer 1's feedback, we have substantially strengthened the theoretical framework by addressing concerns about geographic limitations and generalizability issues. We have expanded our discussion of how findings from Indonesia's majority-Muslim context may apply to different cultural settings and acknowledged the inherent limitations of focusing primarily on successful entrepreneurs. The manuscript now includes enhanced policy implications and stronger consideration of cultural sensitivity issues throughout the research design and analysis. We have also extended our theoretical contributions to entrepreneurship literature by demonstrating how religious identity can serve as a competitive advantage rather than a constraint in business development.

In response to Reviewer 2's comments, we have significantly improved the methodological clarity and structure of the manuscript. The introduction now includes three explicit research questions that guide the entire investigation, and we have restructured the methodology section to link each research question to specific analytical approaches. We have corrected all data interpretation errors, particularly the analysis of engagement rates across content categories, and improved the presentation of tables and figures throughout the results section. The discussion has been reorganized with clearer signposting and stronger argumentation flow, while the limitations section has been relocated to the conclusion as requested.

A critical improvement we made was ensuring the integrity of all references cited in the manuscript. We identified and removed several citations that could not be verified or located, replacing them with accurate statements that do not rely on unverifiable sources. This ensures that legitimate scholarly literature correctly supports all claims made in the paper.

The revised manuscript maintains all original theoretical contributions while presenting them with greater clarity and stronger empirical support. The Halal Personal Branding Framework remains a novel contribution to entrepreneurship communication theory, now presented with enhanced theoretical grounding and clearer practical applications. Our findings demonstrate that culturally sensitive AI implementation can enhance rather than constrain authentic religious identity expression in entrepreneurial contexts.

These comprehensive revisions have addressed all concerns raised by both reviewers while strengthening the manuscript's contribution to the literature on AI-driven personal branding, female entrepreneurship, and cultural identity in digital economies. The color-coded revision system ensures complete transparency in responding to each specific comment and suggestion.

We appreciate the time and expertise both reviewers dedicated to improving our work, and we thank the editorial team for facilitating this constructive review process. We are confident that the revised manuscript now meets the high scholarly standards expected for publication in the Journal of Media and makes a meaningful contribution to understanding the intersection of artificial intelligence, religious identity, and entrepreneurship in contemporary digital markets.

We look forward to your feedback on the revised manuscript and will be available to address any additional questions or concerns arising during the editorial process.

Sincerely,

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors,

Thank you for the opportunity to review your manuscript titled “AI-Driven Personal Branding for Female Entrepreneurs: The Indonesian Hijabi Startup Ecosystem.”

1. The manuscript presents the topic clearly, positioning it in relation to existing scholarship. There is adequate background linking the theoretical framework to the case study focus, although in some areas the theoretical section can be further developed with more recent references.

The introduction references a lot of data, without any reference. Several statements, particularly those with specific factual claims, would benefit from explicit citation.

The references cited in this manuscript are appropriate and relevant to this research, but they are incomplete. The study should be supplemented with more recent academic references.

2. The research design, questions, hypotheses, and methods can be improved. The methodology is described, but could be more explicitly structured, clearly stating the research questions at the outset and linking them directly to the Halal Personal Branding Framework.

 

3. The results are presented with supporting examples and evidence, but some subsections are dense with text. Tables, figures, or bullet summaries could improve best Interpretation for the subsections. Please check Table 3 results: “Table 3 provides … revealing that lifestyle integration content achieves the highest engagement rates at 6.1% “. Community Events presents 7,2%! (line 313). See and give other tittle to Figure 2 and improve the figures’ image quality in general.

 

4. The discussion follows logically from the findings/results and presents a balanced view, although the argumentation could benefit from occasional signposting for clarity. Tables, figures, or bullet summaries could improve best Interpretation.

 

5. In my opinion the limitations and suggesting avenues for further research would further strengthen the conclusion section and not the discussion section.

This study is a valuable contribution with a clear thematic focus and a relevant methodological approach. The manuscript requires only minor improvements in structure, methodological clarity, and adequate referential background linking the theoretical framework to the study focus to reach its full potential.

Best regards

Author Response

Dear Editor and Reviewers,

We express our sincere gratitude for the thoughtful and constructive feedback provided by both reviewers. Their comprehensive comments have significantly enhanced the quality and rigor of our manuscript. We have carefully considered each suggestion and implemented substantial revisions throughout the paper to address all concerns raised.

We have implemented a clear visual tracking system in the revised manuscript to facilitate the review process and ensure transparency in our revision approach. All revisions addressing Reviewer 1's feedback are marked in red, while all changes responding to Reviewer 2's comments are highlighted in blue. This color-coding system easily identifies how we have addressed each reviewer's concerns and recommendations.

Regarding Reviewer 1's feedback, we have substantially strengthened the theoretical framework by addressing concerns about geographic limitations and generalizability issues. We have expanded our discussion of how findings from Indonesia's majority-Muslim context may apply to different cultural settings and acknowledged the inherent limitations of focusing primarily on successful entrepreneurs. The manuscript now includes enhanced policy implications and stronger consideration of cultural sensitivity issues throughout the research design and analysis. We have also extended our theoretical contributions to entrepreneurship literature by demonstrating how religious identity can serve as a competitive advantage rather than a constraint in business development.

In response to Reviewer 2's comments, we have significantly improved the methodological clarity and structure of the manuscript. The introduction now includes three explicit research questions that guide the entire investigation, and we have restructured the methodology section to link each research question to specific analytical approaches. We have corrected all data interpretation errors, particularly the analysis of engagement rates across content categories, and improved the presentation of tables and figures throughout the results section. The discussion has been reorganized with clearer signposting and stronger argumentation flow, while the limitations section has been relocated to the conclusion as requested.

A critical improvement we made was ensuring the integrity of all references cited in the manuscript. We identified and removed several citations that could not be verified or located, replacing them with accurate statements that do not rely on unverifiable sources. This ensures that legitimate scholarly literature correctly supports all claims made in the paper.

The revised manuscript maintains all original theoretical contributions while presenting them with greater clarity and stronger empirical support. The Halal Personal Branding Framework remains a novel contribution to entrepreneurship communication theory, now presented with enhanced theoretical grounding and clearer practical applications. Our findings demonstrate that culturally sensitive AI implementation can enhance rather than constrain authentic religious identity expression in entrepreneurial contexts.

These comprehensive revisions have addressed all concerns raised by both reviewers while strengthening the manuscript's contribution to the literature on AI-driven personal branding, female entrepreneurship, and cultural identity in digital economies. The color-coded revision system ensures complete transparency in responding to each specific comment and suggestion.

We appreciate the time and expertise both reviewers dedicated to improving our work, and we thank the editorial team for facilitating this constructive review process. We are confident that the revised manuscript now meets the high scholarly standards expected for publication in the Journal of Media and makes a meaningful contribution to understanding the intersection of artificial intelligence, religious identity, and entrepreneurship in contemporary digital markets.

We look forward to your feedback on the revised manuscript and will be available to address any additional questions or concerns arising during the editorial process.

Sincerely,

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf