BPW :: The International Federation of Business and Professional Women
Today I was going to talk about BPW at the ThoughtWorks Women's lunch, but couldn't make it due to client commitments. And since I'm going to India shortly, I'm not going to get another chance so I thought I'd do a quick entry to cover what I would have spoken about ... bear in mind that I'm currently investigating a global membership for all ThoughtWorks women ...
What is BPW?
The International Federation of Business and Professional Women was founded in 1930 by Dr Lena Madesin Phillips. She was passionate about encouraging women to look beyond their own borders, whether local, state or country in the 1920's - long before the term "global inclusivity" was coined.
BPW has a close relationship with the UN and is representated at UN Headquarters in New York, Vienna, Geneva; UN regional offices (UNECA, UNECE, UNESCAP, UNESCWA, UNECLAC); UNESCO, UNICEF, ILO, WHO, UNCTAD, UNIDO, FAO, UN DPI; Council of Europe; European Women’s Lobby and UNIFEM.
The BPW network is spread across 80 countries in five continents and includes influential women leaders, entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, professionals and young career women. Read more about BPW ...
Aims of BPW
The aim of BPW is to develop women’s professional and leadership potential at all levels, with the determination that our effort will lead to equal participation of women and men in power and decision-making roles.
My experience at BPW so far
My local group is Melbourne Midcity. They host monthly get-togethers - usually dinners with amazing - and amazingly diverse - guest speakers.
The first I attended was Kristina Karlsson (who is a member of Melbourne Midcity) talking through how she built Kikki K into the successful business it is now.
The second event had two guest speakers - the first was from Project Respect, who support women in the sex industry of Australia and to help prevent the exploitation and enslavement of women, by the industry. The second speaker was Susie Latham, one of the authors of Human Rights Overboard :: seeking asylum in Australia. I've since read Human Rights Overboard and believe it to be the most important book I've ever read.
Coming up next is an 'end of financial year' get together, with Emmanuel Perdis of Napolean Perdis talking about how he built his business.
People I've met
I've already mentioned Kristina. Other members I've met at Melbourne Midcity include a successful private client adviser who is also the Second Vice President Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Status of Women and a successful entrepreneur and business performance strategist who is also the Deputy Chair of the Council of Small Businesses of Australia.
So far I've met many other incredible women across various industries, including marketing, law, social work, branding and manufacturing. Interestingly, so far I've not met any other IT Professionals. Who could you meet at your local chapter?
What is BPW?
The International Federation of Business and Professional Women was founded in 1930 by Dr Lena Madesin Phillips. She was passionate about encouraging women to look beyond their own borders, whether local, state or country in the 1920's - long before the term "global inclusivity" was coined.
BPW has a close relationship with the UN and is representated at UN Headquarters in New York, Vienna, Geneva; UN regional offices (UNECA, UNECE, UNESCAP, UNESCWA, UNECLAC); UNESCO, UNICEF, ILO, WHO, UNCTAD, UNIDO, FAO, UN DPI; Council of Europe; European Women’s Lobby and UNIFEM.
The BPW network is spread across 80 countries in five continents and includes influential women leaders, entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, professionals and young career women. Read more about BPW ...
Aims of BPW
The aim of BPW is to develop women’s professional and leadership potential at all levels, with the determination that our effort will lead to equal participation of women and men in power and decision-making roles.
My experience at BPW so far
My local group is Melbourne Midcity. They host monthly get-togethers - usually dinners with amazing - and amazingly diverse - guest speakers.
The first I attended was Kristina Karlsson (who is a member of Melbourne Midcity) talking through how she built Kikki K into the successful business it is now.
The second event had two guest speakers - the first was from Project Respect, who support women in the sex industry of Australia and to help prevent the exploitation and enslavement of women, by the industry. The second speaker was Susie Latham, one of the authors of Human Rights Overboard :: seeking asylum in Australia. I've since read Human Rights Overboard and believe it to be the most important book I've ever read.
Coming up next is an 'end of financial year' get together, with Emmanuel Perdis of Napolean Perdis talking about how he built his business.
People I've met
I've already mentioned Kristina. Other members I've met at Melbourne Midcity include a successful private client adviser who is also the Second Vice President Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Status of Women and a successful entrepreneur and business performance strategist who is also the Deputy Chair of the Council of Small Businesses of Australia.
So far I've met many other incredible women across various industries, including marketing, law, social work, branding and manufacturing. Interestingly, so far I've not met any other IT Professionals. Who could you meet at your local chapter?
Another step closer
We've picked out our passports, our flights are booked and we're in the process of getting visas.
I leave on July 3 - and arrive on July 3 ... ahh, all day on a plane ... lovely!
So now ... what to pack?
I leave on July 3 - and arrive on July 3 ... ahh, all day on a plane ... lovely!
So now ... what to pack?
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