BPW: A Legacy of Lifting Women in Business

From it’s earliest days, Business and Professional Women (BPW) was more than a name – it was a mission. Founded in 1919, BPW emerged from a post- war world where women had proven themselves in the workforce but stillfaced steep barriers to advancement, recognition, and equal opportunity. The organization became a national voice for women who were determined to build businesses, lead in the workplace, and shape their own financial futures.

BPW was built to connect women in business and the professions, creating a space for mentorship and skill- building. Its early members campaigned for equal pay, access to credit, and the right to work without discrimination – issues that still resonate today. Over time, BPW also became a launchpad for entrepreneurship, helping women chart their own paths as business owners, consultants and innovators.

Today, our Entrepreneur and Small Business Committee carries that legacy forward by empower members with tools, training and community. We understand the spirit of BPW lies in building each other up – sharing insights, lifting voices, and igniting economic potential. As we look to the future, we honor the past by continuing to champion women who are bold enough to dream and brave enough to build.

Honoring  the  Past, Present  and  Future  of Entrepreneurs:

1919: Madam C.J. Walker build a thriving business empire in the early 20th century by creating and selling hair care products for Black women. She is often recognized as the first self- made millionaire in the United States. Though she passed away in 1919, her legacy was in full force and her company employed thousands of women. She championed not only economic independence for women but also education, philanthropy and community activism.

2000: Sara Blakely. In 2000, Sara Blakely launched Spanx, turning a $5,000 personal investment into a billion-dollar business. With no background in fashion and no outside investors, she revolutionized the shapewear industry and became a role model for women-led startups. Her success story highlights the turn of the century surge in women entrepreneurs breaking into global markets with innovation and grit.

2025: Kim Roxie (Emerging Entrepreneur) As the Founder of LAMIK Beauty (Love and Makeup in Kindness), Kim Roxie is gaining attention as a trailblazing beauty entrepreneur focused on clean cosmetics for women of color.Based in Houston, Texas, Roxie combines social entrepreneurship with beauty innovation. By 2025, her company continues to grow as a digitally native brand with purpose at its core, embodying the future of business: inclusive, mission-driven, and tech savvy.

ESB met on June 11th. Our speaker was Brooke Burns, a member of NFBPWC-Virtual. Brooke Burns is an amazing and talented Life and Business Coach from North Carolina. June’s topic was “AI – How to Use ChatGPT in Your Small Business” Thank you to the 42 members who signed up for this workshop. Any Brooke Burns presentations is interactive and informative and valuable – and the June workshop was no different. We had fun and learned so much.

Your ESB team highly recommends contacting Brooke Burns for future virtual or in-person presentations to your clubs.

Contact Brooke: info@brook-burns.com

COMING IN JULY! ESB PRESENTS:
Building from our June session, the July interactive workshop will guide you in turning AI insights into action. We’ll walk through real-life applications of ChatGPT to help you craft a practical social media or outreach strategy for your business or cause. Whether you are promoting a product, your business, or raising awareness, you’ll leave with personally developed content.

Register and join us on July 9th at 7pm Eastern
https://www.nfbpwc.org/event-6084100

NFBPWC Entrepreneur and Small Business Committee (2022-2026)
Marsha Riibner-Cady (NC), Chair
Barbara Bozeman (Virtual/NC), Co-Chair

Contact us at: smallbusiness@nfbpwc.org