The Engineering of Stability: What Sustainability Means to Me

When I hear the word sustainability, I think of my mother holding a ten-rupee note in her hand, deciding how to stretch it across an entire week.

Before I ever understood the formal definition of the word, I lived inside it. My mother earned her master’s degree while raising two children. My father worked long days at a job he quietly disliked because our stability mattered more than his immediate happiness. At the height of her career, my mother stepped away from her professional life to focus on us while my father carried the financial weight alone.

In our home, sustainability was not a theoretical concept. It was a lived experience of sacrifice paired with a long-term plan. As the eldest child, I watched my mother pause her own future. I watched my father choose security even when it cost him joy. Our household ran on resilience, patience, and the belief that temporary sacrifice could create lasting opportunity.

To me, sustainability means remaining steady under pressure. It means building systems that do not collapse when circumstances shift. It also means ensuring that equality does not rise and fall based on politics or wealth. Sustainability is the stability that endures.

How Women Design the Future

When I moved to the United States at eighteen, my understanding of sustainability grew from family survival to structural change. While volunteering at the United Nations, I met women from across the globe who shared their lives as blueprints for action. They navigated unfamiliar systems to create financial stability while mentoring others. These women reinforced what I had learned from my mother: true sustainability is about designing systems that remain strong long after we are gone.

I believe this kind of lasting change only happens through inclusive leadership. When women design technology, write policy, or manage finance, they change the conversation about what matters to a community. I look to changemakers like Savitribai Phule, Wangari Maathai, and Malala Yousafzai. These women remind us that sustainability starts the moment a girl is allowed to choose her own path.

"Sustainability is not just survival. It is resilience."

The Foundation of Financial Independence

At the end of the day, financial independence is the key to this vision. Resilience is about surviving, but sustainability is about finally owning your life. When a woman has control over her own career and her own finances, she is not just protecting herself. She is securing the future for her family and everyone around her. My mother’s strategic choices created the very foundation I stand on today.

As a student in Computer Science, I now realize my mother was my first engineer. She engineered stability in a world that was often uncertain. Because her sacrifice created space for my growth, she is now pursuing the PhD she once put on hold.

This is the true meaning of sustainability. It is not just survival. It is the resilience that carries forward into the next generation. I am the result of that sustainability.

Diya Adhikari
Chair Young BPW
youngbpw@nfbpwc.org

The April Afterglow: Carrying the Momentum of a Global Movement

If you’re feeling a "post-March" shift in energy, you’re not alone. We’ve just emerged from the whirlwind of Women’s History Month, the high-level advocacy of the NFBPWC, and the global intensity of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70).

While the calendar has turned to April, the work doesn't stop. In fact, this is when the real work begins.

The Mentors Who Stay With Me

Last month was a powerful reminder of the shoulders we stand on. As I reflected on the legacy of BPW International Past Presidents Elizabeth Benham and Dr. Yasmin Darwich, NFBPWC Past President Sandra Thompson, and Past Membership VP Kathy Kelly, I was reminded that advocacy is a marathon, not a sprint.

Most notably, I found myself thinking of BPW International VP Membership Francesca Burack, who was there every year to help me and so many others navigate the complexities of the UN. These women didn't just lead; they paved a path. They taught me that our "presence" in those halls in March must translate into "action" in our communities in April.

From Global Policy to Local Practice

The Official Agreed Conclusions from CSW70 are now set, providing a global roadmap for gender equality and economic empowerment. But those documents only have power if we bring them home. Through our ties with the NFBPWC, we have the unique opportunity to turn those international standards into local realities.

What’s Next?

How are you carrying that March spark into your April? Whether you’re joining a new committee or implementing a lesson learned from a mentor, remember: we aren't just spectators of history once a year. We are the ones writing the next chapter, every single day.

MEGAN SHELLMAN-RICKARD
Immediate Past President
2024-2026
immpastpresident@nfbpwc.org

STEM and STEAM

STEM and STEAM are acronyms that have been around for a while now. What do they actually mean?

STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. STEAM includes the addition of Art.

Speech-Language Pathology, my current profession, is considered a STEM profession. The demographics include 95% women and 5% men. There are many women who provide direct treatment for people with many different conditions.

I studied physics, anatomy, physiology, and neurology while earning my Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy.

I currently use science and art every day to help my preschoolers learn how to develop verbal and sign language, use technology, and use art to communicate their wants and needs.

I have spent the past 25 years learning about Augmentative and Alternative Communication systems, which always include some type of technology, such as computers, switches, and tablets, and art, such as pictures that represent objects. Technically, Speech-Language Pathology is a STEAM profession that many people don’t know exists.

I recently attended CSW70 at the United Nations in New York City. There were many women and men in attendance from all walks of life. There were many women who have started their own businesses using technology, taken over family farms, and worked within different areas of the world.

There is a need for more women in STEM and STEAM professions, specifically in research for physical and mental well-being. There is currently a need for more research on how medications, stress, and other factors impact women differently from men because we have different systems. Many evaluations and treatments are based on men and how they react to different medications, stress, and daily demands. The demands that women face in their paid and unpaid jobs are different.

There is a need for more women to be recognized, respected, and paid for their knowledge in all STEM, STEAM, and non-STEM or STEAM professions.

Technically, making dinner for a family is an unpaid STEAM profession! It takes a plan, math, and the acquisition of resources, such as grocery shopping and money; chemistry, such as mixing and measuring quantities of ingredients; thermodynamics, such as heating the ingredients; and art, such as making the meal look delicious with a variety of colors and textures. Women have been the pioneers in STEM and STEAM professions since the beginning of time!

I challenge you to evaluate your current STEM or STEAM career and find a woman you can support in her STEM or STEAM career this month and every month.

We all need a village to support us and the women and girls in the rest of our world! Let’s get this STEM/STEAM party started and improve our world together!

Happy Earth Day to all!

Dr. Joanne Carfioli Naylor
National Treasurer
2024-2026
treasurer@nfbpwc.org

Resilience and Fragility at CSW 70

The 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) closed not with its usual consensus, but with a recorded vote—an unprecedented moment that reflects both the resilience and the fragility of global progress on women’s rights. For this newsletter’s predominantly North American audience of business and professional women, the message is clear: the global framework supporting women’s economic participation is holding, but it is no longer universally agreed upon—and in some places, it is being actively challenged.

For decades, CSW has functioned as a consensus-driven body, signaling shared global commitment. This year, however, its outcome document—the “Agreed Conclusions”—passed by vote, with 37 countries (out of 45) in favor and the United States opposed (7 abstentions). That shift alone marks a turning point. Women’s rights are no longer treated as a universally aligned priority, but as part of a more contested geopolitical landscape.

And yet, the broader picture is not one of collapse. The overwhelming majority of countries reaffirmed commitments to gender equality, access to justice, and women’s economic participation. The system bent under pressure—but it held. For business leaders, that distinction matters. It suggests that while the global environment is becoming more complex, the overall direction of travel remains intact.

At the center of CSW70 was access to justice, broadly defined to include not just legal systems but the ability of women to assert their rights at work and in society. A notable advance was the explicit inclusion of incarcerated women in global justice frameworks for the first time, expanding recognition of how structural inequality shapes women’s economic and legal realities.

The agreement also reinforced commitments to removing discriminatory laws and strengthening protections against workplace discrimination and violence. These are not abstract ideals. They influence whether contracts are enforceable, whether harassment claims are addressed, and whether women can fully participate in the economy.

At the same time, negotiations exposed clear fault lines. Language related to sexual and reproductive health and rights was weakened, reflecting ongoing political pressure. While often viewed as separate from business, these issues directly affect workforce participation, career continuity, and economic mobility.

These tensions are reflected in where women are gaining ground—and where they are not.

Across much of Europe, along with countries such as Mexico and Tunisia, there is strong alignment with CSW70 principles. These regions continue to strengthen legal frameworks supporting gender equality, creating more predictable environments for women’s advancement and leadership. Parts of Latin America, in particular, are building momentum through improved protections against gender-based violence and expanded economic inclusion.

In the United States, the picture is more complex. The vote against the agreement does not erase decades of progress, but it does signal increasing divergence from international norms. For American businesswomen, this may mean greater variability in protections depending on location, particularly in areas tied to reproductive rights and workplace policy.

In many regions, funding for women’s rights organizations and support systems is declining.

Elsewhere, countries including Russia and Saudi Arabia continue to reflect more constrained environments, where legal, cultural, or enforcement barriers limit women’s full economic participation. For organizations operating globally, these differences are not theoretical—they shape risk, opportunity, and talent strategy.

Perhaps the most significant challenge, however, cuts across borders. In many regions, funding for women’s rights organizations and support systems is declining. Legal protections depend on implementation, and where services such as legal aid and advocacy weaken, rights become harder to exercise. This gap between policy and practice remains one of the defining issues emerging from CSW70.

For a North American audience, three implications stand out. First, gender equality is no longer a stable, universally advancing baseline; it is uneven and, at times, contested. Second, the role of the private sector is expanding, as companies are increasingly expected to provide the protections and opportunities that public systems may not consistently deliver. Third, global talent dynamics are shifting, with countries that strengthen women’s rights gaining a competitive edge.

CSW70 is both a milestone and a warning. The global community has held the line on many core principles, but the move away from consensus underscores that progress is not guaranteed. It must be actively maintained—and, in some cases, defended.

For organizations like our BPW, present in 115 countries, this is a moment to lead. Navigating a more complex landscape will require not only awareness, but action—ensuring that the systems shaping women’s economic participation continue to move forward, even when global alignment does not.

Nermin K. Ahmad
National Secretary
2024-2026
Secretary@nfbpwc.org

April in Action: Advocacy, Awareness, and Impact

Happy spring BPW members! We’ve just wrapped up a hectic March in NYC with IFBPW’s Leader’s Summit and the 70th Commission of the Status of Women bringing thousands of gender advocates from around the world together. Moving into April, fresh off the tail of all this activity, has me re-energized and ready to take action.

Many of us are used to celebrating spring and Earth Day during April - it is a great time to think about sustainability and our environmental impact. I encourage our members to check out the ESD committee page and learn how to engage in their work. A sustainable future requires healthy communities, strong economies, and the full participation of women in every sector—from leadership and policy to science, technology, and education. Our work as advocates helps ensure that women’s voices are part of shaping that future.

From an advocacy lens, April is also Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness, supporting survivors, and strengthening prevention efforts. Sexual violence remains a serious issue affecting women in every community and workplace. Advocating for survivor-centered policies, supporting local organizations, and helping create safe and respectful professional environments are all ways we can contribute to meaningful change.

One of the most visible advocacy moments during the month is Denim Day, marked annually on the last Wednesday in April. Organized internationally by the Peace Over Violence, Denim Day began after a controversial court ruling in Italy. The Supreme Court Justices ruled that because the victim was wearing tight denim jeans, there was no way the perpetrator could have removed them by himself, and therefore, the act must have been consensual. In response, activists encouraged people to wear denim as a symbol of protest against victim-blaming and sexual violence. You can advocate by wearing denim on April 29th and posting a photo on social media - don’t forget to tag NFBPWC!

Later in the month, International Girls in ICT Day (April 23, 2026)—led by the International Telecommunication Union—encourages girls and young women to explore careers in technology and digital innovation. Expanding access to these fields not only creates economic opportunity, but also ensures that the technologies shaping our future reflect the experiences and insights of women.

As advocates, we know that progress rarely comes from one action alone. It is built through many voices speaking up—mentoring a young woman exploring a new career path, supporting organizations that assist survivors of violence, participating in local environmental initiatives, or engaging policymakers on issues that affect women’s lives.

This April, I encourage each of you to find one way to take action. Wear denim in solidarity with survivors. Attend an Earth Day event. Mentor a young woman interested in science or technology. Share information about Sexual Assault Awareness Month in your community.

When we combine advocacy with awareness and action, we strengthen the impact of our work. Together we continue to build communities that are safer, more equitable, and more sustainable for women everywhere.

Emily VanVleck
National VP Advocacy
2024-2026
vpadvocacy@nfbpwc.org

What Are You Building?

As a Young BPW, take some time and answer these questions for yourself.

1. What are you working on right now (personally or professionally or both)?
2. What does success look like for you five years from now?
3. What professional challenge keeps you up at night?
4. What skills are you actively trying to develop right now?
5. What kind of training would move the needle for you?
6. If you had the right support, what would you attempt?

Your voice matters. If you are willing to share, please send your responses to youngbpw@nfbpwc.org.

Your insight will directly shape what comes next.

Taking Action, Not Silence: A Practical Guide for Women Facing Violence

“Silence is safer for systems—but deadly for women.”

This simple line captures the essence of a difficult truth: the world may not always protect you—but you can protect yourself, wisely and safely, with knowledge, allies, and action.

Violence against women is a reality many of us fear but hope we never encounter. Yet, it happens across communities, cultures, and ages, and the consequences—physical, emotional, and social—can be devastating.

The truth is, laws and systems exist to protect women, but they often fail in practice. So what can women do to protect themselves and reclaim agency without increasing risk?

This cheat-sheet is a practical, research-backed guide for taking informed, empowered action.

1. Understanding Your Rights and Legal Limits

Self-defense is your legal right in the United States, but it comes with rules that vary by state. The key principles are immediacy, proportionality, and necessity:

• Immediacy: Force can only be used to stop an ongoing or imminent threat. Reacting to a past attack does not qualify.
• Proportionality: Use only enough force to stop the threat or escape. Using excessive force can turn a legal defense into criminal liability.
• Necessity: Defensive action is justified only when there is no reasonable alternative. If escape is possible without force, the law expects it.

Knowing these limits helps women act confidently if attacked while minimizing their legal risk. But remember: even when acting within the law, women may face scrutiny, police questioning, or legal processes to prove that self-defense was justified. Marginalized women often face additional disbelief or bias, making documentation and support even more important.

Many women do not realize that they have rights, especially if they are abused within their families, notably by one of their parents. The trade-off, competing for your parent’s affection v. escaping abuse, can be overwhelming and enormously destructive. How to best exercise self-defense in such cases? At UNCSW70 on March 16, 2026, I hope to find out as I moderate a panel where a survivor of parental abuse managed to escape – even though she was well in her 30’s!

2. Physical Self-Defense: What You Need to Know

Physical self-defense is about survival, not punishment. Techniques and tools are valuable, but the goal is always to stop harm and escape safely.

Here are practical guidelines:

• React only to an immediate threat. Avoid retaliation after the fact.
• Use minimal, proportional force. Striking, blocking, or using an improvised tool should be focused on stopping the attacker.
• Seek escape whenever possible. Even a successful defensive action can have social or legal consequences, so exiting the situation is often the safest route.

Many women find empowerment in learning defensive skills, whether martial arts, wielding pepper spray, or situational awareness. The key is preparation, not confrontation. Project the confidence you have gained to keep danger from finding you.

3. Social Costs: Why Action Can Be Complicated

Even when the law protects you, acting against aggression can carry social costs. Women who defend themselves or report violence often encounter:

• Victim-blaming from peers, family, or institutions
• Community backlash in cultures or neighborhoods where silence is expected 
• Emotional and psychological tolls of reliving trauma during reporting or legal proceedings

This does not mean staying silent – but it does mean planning any action you will undertake after an attack – with a support network, your safety, and clear next steps.

Hiding in isolation increases your vulnerability, while finding allies amplifies your resolve and adds to your safety.

I once helped a woman escape a dire situation – but it took a year to have all the elements in place to avoid her drifting back to the safety of a hell she found familiar.

4. Safe Action: Principles for Empowered Choices

To act effectively without unnecessary risk, follow these guiding principles:

• Understand your rights and limits. Know state laws, self-defense statutes, and local reporting procedures. Document everything. Obtain witnesses.
• Prioritize safety first. Your immediate goal is survival and minimizing harm. Avoid risky actions when alone or without backup.
• Use trusted support systems. This includes friends, family, advocacy groups, legal aid, and hotlines. Never feel you must act in isolation, and yet – trust carefully.
• Document and report carefully. Collect evidence safely if possible. Report when it’s safe to do so, ideally with support from a trusted individual or organization.
• Empowerment over retaliation. Action is about regaining agency and safety, not seeking revenge. Silence may feel safe, but it allows harm to continue unchecked.

Consider: “Empowered action is informed, supported, and safe—silence is never the only option.”

5. Speaking Out: Why Silence Is Dangerous

Stories like those in The Hunting Ground, a documentary about sexual assault on college campuses, highlight the cost of silence. Survivors often suffer long-term trauma while institutions prioritize reputation over safety. Silence protects the system, not people. Acting, whether through reporting, seeking counseling, or advocacy, disrupts the cycle of harm.

Even if speaking out is emotionally taxing, it signals to aggressors and communities that violence is unacceptable. It also strengthens legal and social pathways for others. The goal isn’t just personal justice—it’s systemic change.

When I first saw the movie at NYU, several young men stood during the Q & A, in tears. They honestly had believed their peers – when a girl says no, it means yes - they just want you to use more force. I, just, … wow.

6. Support Networks and Resources

You are not alone.

Numerous organizations provide guidance, advocacy, and legal support:

• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE, online resources, and confidential reporting.
• Local NGOs and women’s shelters: Many provide safe housing, legal aid, and counseling.
• Community networks: Friends, family, and trusted colleagues are key allies.

Films and media as education: The Hunting Ground, An Army of Women, Thappad, Uyare, Damini—these explore systemic failures and the power of action.

Documenting and learning from these resources equips women to make informed decisions in high-stakes situations.

7. Bottom Line: Action Over Silence

Violence against women is complex, frightening, and often systemically ignored. Yet there is power in informed, supported action.

Self-defense, legal knowledge, and social support aren’t just tools, they are lifelines.

Silence may feel safe, but it guarantees continued harm, isolation, and trauma and leaves the perpetrator free to harm others. Informed action, however small, reclaims agency, protects your body and mind, and challenges societal norms that allow aggression to persist.

Nermin K. Ahmad
National Secretary
2024-2026
Secretary@nfbpwc.org

March is a powerful month for gender equality. As we celebrate Women’s His-tory Month, International Women's Day, and convene alongside global leaders at the 70th Annual Commission on the Sta-tus of Women (CSW).

During this month, we are also reminded that progress for women and girls is nei-ther automatic nor guaranteed, but is driven by consistent, strategic, and cou-rageous advocacy.

Your advocacy committee has been working non-stop to create tools and op-portunities to flex your advocacy skills, and we hope you take advantage of the ample opportunities for action this month.

International Women’s Day: More Than a Celebration

International Women’s Day (March 8) calls on us to reflect not only on how far women have come, but also on the structural barriers that remain. From wage inequality to gender-based vio-lence, from underrepresentation in lead-ership to attacks on reproductive autono-my, the fight for equality requires coordinated action at every level.

This month, we encourage every member to:

• Contact one elected official about an is-sue affecting wom-en in your state.
• Share a fact or call-to-action on social media.
• Support women-owned businesses in your community.

Small actions, taken collectively, create systemic change.

The Equal Rights Amendment: The 28th Amendment Campaign

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) meets the constitutional requirements for ratification, yet it has not been for-mally recognized as the 28th Amend-ment to the U.S. Constitution. As advo-cates, we know that equality under the law should never be up for debate.

NFBPWC continues our “28th” campaign by calling for a financial boycott on the 28th of each month. You can participate by skipping any non-essential spending, and if you must make a purchase, try to buy from a small business.

We also call on members to engage in advocacy efforts by contacting legisla-tors, educating others, or sharing our graphics online.

Advocacy Tools: Strengthening Our Collective Impact 

Earlier this year, the Advocacy Commit-tee launched new tools designed to help members take action with confidence and clarity:

• How to Advocate Guide – Step-by-step strategies for engaging elected officials and policymakers. (You will find a reproduction of the slides for a presentation on this guide on pX.)
• Legislative Screening Team Guide – A roadmap for forming state or local teams to monitor and evaluate legisla-tion.
• Legislative Tracking Sheet – A prac-tical tool to help clubs stay orga-nized and informed.
• Advocacy Hub - The next pages of the Advocacy Hub have been completed, and we are one step closer to unveiling this tool to our members. Stay tuned for updates!

Advocacy does not require a law degree. It requires information, coordination, and commitment — and we now have the infra-structure to support every member who wants to lead. A workshop outlining these tools was held in January - the recording is available on the website.

If you have not yet accessed these re-sources, March is the perfect time to begin.

Global Conversations, Local Action

As we engage with conversations happen-ing at CSW, we must remember that inter-national frameworks only become mean-ingful when translated into local change. Policies affecting pay equity, childcare, workplace protections, and violence pre-vention are shaped in state legislatures, city councils, and school boards.

NFBPWC members are uniquely positioned to bridge global commitments and local implementation. We are professionals, community lead-ers, and advocates with both exper-tise and lived ex-perience.

Endometriosis Awareness Month

Among all the events happening during March, we also observe Endo-metriosis Aware-ness Month. This offers an oppor-tunity to bring awareness to this debilitating condition that affects over 1 in 10 women glob-ally and takes years to diagnose. The color yellow is the official color to represent en-dometriosis awareness, and we encourage members to post a photo on their social media platforms of themselves (alone or with friends) wearing yellow with the hashtag #EndometriosisAwarenessMonth.

However you plan to commemorate the month of March, please take a moment to advocate for gender equity. Whether it’s through attending a CSW event, sharing a campaign on social media, or contacting your elected officials, small actions make all the difference.

Make sure to check out our social media pages throughout the month to review our Women’s History Month posts honoring his-toric women of note.

Emily VanVleck
National VP Advocacy
2024-2026
vpadvocacy@nfbpwc.org

What Did We Do? What Can You Do?

M is for March.

M is for Momentum.

As members, it’s natural to ask:

What can I do?

But it’s equally important to share: What have we done? What are we doing?

What We Did

Over the past month, the Membership Committee has been working to strengthen your experience as members.

We have focused on clarity in our messaging. We have been working to ensure what we say, what we offer, and what members experience is consistent, practical, and valuable. This includes updating and clarifying Member Benefits information, working on revisions for the Membership brochure, and overhauling existing guidance for building and operating clubs.

We know you want membership to feel structured, supportive, and accessible.

What Can You Do?

Membership is not always a passive thing.

Here are 4 meaningful steps you can take in March:

• Reflect on one professional goal and identify how BPW can support it.
• Share one BPW event or post on your personal social media.
• Attend one virtual parallel event forCSW.
• Complete the BPW Listens Member Survey presented by BPW International. (Use the link below.)

TAKE THE SURVEY

You’ve already received a few emails encouraging you to complete the survey. It is a JotForm and according to those who’ve already taken it, it should require only about 15-20 minutes of your time.

*Please note that if you do not fill out the form completely, it will not be submitted. If you are concerned about anonymity, the system does not track emails, and you can answer “NFBPWC” and “USA” where it asks for Affiliate and City.

Send us your feedback, ideas, or reflections at vpmembership@nfbpwc.org

From Awareness to Action: How Heart of a Woman Changed my Perspective

In 2018, NFBPWC began a powerful partnership with Houston Methodist Hospital and the vibrant NFBPWC Houston organization. I attended the inaugural event alongside 2016–2018 NFBPWC President Elizabeth Benham, unaware at the time that heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States.

Under the leadership of NFBPWC Houston President Paola Ferrari, the local organization worked closely with national leadership and Houston Methodist to create what became the Heart of a Woman event—an impactful partnership that continues today.

Its legacy endures by “educating physicians, nurses, and the entire care team about the gender-specific symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of heart disease, and how women can proactively improve their own heart health.” Find more information here.

When I attended the Heart of a Woman conference, I had not yet been diagnosed with high blood pressure. Listening to the stories of women—both younger and older than me—was enlightening and deeply moving.

I heard accounts of women whose symptoms were dismissed in emergency rooms, whose experiences were discounted by medical professionals, and who had to fight to receive appropriate care.

I also learned from physicians who were passionate about closing the knowledge gap around women and heart disease in order to save lives.

That experience fundamentally shifted my perspective. When I received my own diagnosis in 2020, I drew on what I had learned, revisiting the information and beginning my medical journey informed, empowered, and prepared.

With all my heart—pun intended—I strongly encourage our members to attend the upcoming Heart of a Woman event on February 6, 2026. What you learn truly might save a life.

Register here.

MEGAN SHELLMAN-RICKARD
Immediate Past President
2024-2026