Building Bridges for Bi-directional Travel: Nicole Mpouli’s

Nicole Mpouli, Immediate Past Chair of our Lifelong Leadership and Learning Committee and newly appointed Chair of our International Relations and Membership Committees, gave a fascinating and actionable presentation on the first day of IGNITE 2026. Building Bridges: Women Leading Through Inclusive Networking, covered important ground.

Its focus was the concept of building and traveling on bridges: not the physical kind, the kind between people, especially women in the workplace. The kind that allows one woman to help another, or several others.

She focused on the BRIDGE Framework, a process she created as “a practical method for turning relationships into belonging, access, growth, generosity, and opportunity.”

The process encourages us to take specific steps in a prescribed order, using the letters of the word bridge to build bridges of inclusivity that benefit us all.

B = BELONG

Create spaces where people feel they matter and everyone is included. See people before positions. Notice who is missing. Create psychological and social space for their participation.

R = REACH

Intentionally connect beyond your normal circles. Cross generations, cultures, industries, and levels of influence.

I = INCLUDE

Move from simple physical diversity in the room to more voices included in the conversation. Invite people to speak, to be on committees and panels. Invite them into opportunities for growth, contribution, and advancement.

D = DEVELOP

Invest in people and relationships for their own sake, not because you do or might need them. A mentor is a coach, sponsor, teacher—someone who shares what they know.

G = GIVE

Lead with generosity before asking for anything in return. Give introductions, advice, time, visibility, encouragement.

E = ELEVATE

Use your influence to open doors for others. Don’t just mention them: celebrate them, recommend them, nominate them, speak their names in rooms they are not in.

Inclusive networking is not collecting business cards, LinkedIn connections, or searching for people who can help you.

Inclusive networking is asking:

• Who is not in the room?
• Whose voice is not being heard?
• Who deserves an opportunity?
• Who can I introduce?

The takeaway is that we, as women and especially as BPW members, should not be going out, whether to networking meetings, cocktail parties, work, or lunch with friends and asking for one favor, rather we should go out with the intention of making five introductions.

She encouraged attendees both physical and virtual to build a bridge before they left, but whether you were there in any capacity or not, it’s not too late for you to do it too.

First: Open LinkedIn and find some women whose names you have heard (or read about here).

Second: Choose one you’d like to know more about.

Third: Send them a message saying you met at the conference or have seen their name in the magazine or heard it in meetings or gatherings and you’d love to connect and explore how you can build bridges together.

Through this small action, we begin to turn inspiration into leadership.

You can see the entire slideshow here.

Lisa Dicksteen
NFBPWC Virtual