Global Leadership Mirroring Local Leadership

Leadership that lasts is rarely flashy. It is built through steady engagement, shared responsibility, and the courage to think beyond the immediate moment.

With a theme focused on Leadership and Vision, the United Nations offers a model worthy of study. Worth studying because it is intentional.

At the UN, leadership is built through cooperation. Nations with different priorities work toward shared goals. Organizations contribute expertise, and progress depends on those willing to listen first, negotiate thoughtfully and understand that successful outcomes may take a very long time – even years, to fully take shape. Decisions are not shaped only by what is possible now but what will matter later as well.

Vision is a discipline too. It is deliberate.

Leaders are expected to consider long-term effects and impacts, to include the voices of those not present in the room when they make decisions. To approach matters in this way allows institutions to think from a global perspective and address complex challenges with a measure of consistency.

What can we learn from this?

For NFBPWC members, this is a powerful reminder. Leadership is grounded in vision and vision requires slowing down, asking the right questions, and resisting the temptation or pressure to act without thinking first.

Leadership often reveals itself in choices

— how we listen, how we collaborate, and how we decide what matters enough to act on.

At the United Nations, leadership is rarely about visibility alone. It is about perspective, patience, and the ability to think beyond immediate outcomes toward long-term impact.

This way of leading may feel distant from everyday life, but in truth, it mirrors the leadership practiced every day by NFBPWC members. We see it in clubs, committees, workplaces, and communities, places where thoughtful engagement quietly shapes meaningful change.

United Nations Call to Action for January:

• Engage with one UN Resource or event
• Connect what you learn to your role in NFBPWC
• Act by sharing an idea or proposing a collaboration

Global leadership is built the same way local leadership is. One informed decision at a time.

Stay Connected with the UN by bookmarking these sites

• United Nations Main Website - https://www.un.org
• UN News - https://news.un.org
• UN WebTV (live & on-demand) - https://media.un.org/en/webtv
• UN Women - https://www.unwomen.org
• Sustainable Development Goals - (SDGs) https://sdgs.un.org/goals
• United Nations on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/ company/unitednations

To learn more or to get involved with NFBPWC’s United Nations efforts email: unchair@nfbpwc.org.

Barbara J. Bozeman
National President
2024-2026

Hard to believe but it’s 2026 already. I hope you all had a lovely holiday season.

The International Executive met in early November for our annual Face-to-Face meeting. It was a very valuable and productive meeting with a lot of work accomplished. There was discussion about the 2027 IFBPW Congress and a location should be shared soon.

Work on our Member’s Survey is coming along very well and by the time you are reading this you may have received the link to complete it.

There was a pilot survey done to make sure it was right before it went out to all members, and we are very appreciative of the time and work that has been put into this survey.

It will be exciting to see the results so the International Executive can do the work to address any concerns to ensure the value of your membership is enhanced. Watch for it in your inbox around mid-January. We hope you will all take the time to complete it.

BPW Listens – Your Voice Matters

Planning continues on the North America and Caribbean Regional Conference on August 23 – 25, 2026. Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada is waiting for us!!!!

Registration and hotel information will be posted on the BPW Canada website in January, so check into the site regularly. And keep reading your magazine – more information will be here as we get closer to the big event.

We have some amazing speakers booked and you will find value in what they have to share.

I hope you have added the conference to your calendars – and that you plan to bring your family – Niagara Falls is beautiful and has a lot to offer everyone!

Here is the link with the preliminary agenda. North American & Caribbean (NAC) Regional Conference - BPW Canada.

Our Region will be hosting our 2nd Leadership Webinar on Thursday, February 5th. It is hosted by our Training Coordinator, Sujata Tiwari. Stay tuned right here for registration details.

Warm wishes as we progress through this new year.

Kain Gorgerat
BPW International 
Regional Coordinator
North America and Caribbean

For information please email international@nfbpwc.org.

LARISA MILLER
International Relations Chair 2024-2026
International Liaison

Join Us in Person or Virtually

We are pleased to announce that our UN CSW 70 parallel event has been officially approved, with a confirmed date, time, and venue.

Justice for Women: Resistance, Survival, and Action – Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls will bring survivor-centered justice conversations to the heart of CSW 70, and NFBPWC members are warmly invited to attend.

Co-hosted by Pacific Women’s Watch New Zealand and the International Federation of Business and Professional Women (IFBPW), and chaired by BPW leader Dr. Sujata Tiwari, this event aligns directly with CSW 70’s priority theme: Ensuring and Strengthening Access to Justice for All Women and Girls.

Why Attend?

This panel goes beyond policy language to spotlight the real experiences of women who have sought justice for gender-based violence and encountered community silence, institutional bias, and judicial failure.

Panelists from multiple regions will share:

• how justice systems can re-traumatize survivors
• the cost of seeking accountability, including exile and financial hardship
• strategies of resistance and survivor-led reform
• examples of “good practices” that restore dignity and access to justice

Who Will Be Speaking

The panel brings together women leaders and advocates from the Asia-Pacific, Africa, Aotearoa/New Zealand, and South America, including:

• Dr. Sujata Tiwari, mental health advocate and author of Against All Odds
• H.E. Ms. Charlotte Lobe, High Commissioner of South Africa to Singapore
• Caroline Herewini, Chief Executive of Te Whare Tiaki Wāhine Refuge
• A South American human rights leader (TBC)

Moderated by Nermin K. Ahmad, Secretary of NFBPWC (2024–2026), the discussion will be survivor-centered, solutions-focused, and action-oriented.

Attend in Person or Join from Anywhere

In New York for CSW?

We encourage you to join us in person at the Salvation Army Auditorium.

Not traveling to NYC?

You are equally welcome to participate virtually, hear the discussion, and engage from wherever you are.

No prior UN experience is required. This event is designed to be accessible, informative, and welcoming, especially for BPW members who are new to CSW or UN advocacy.

Be Part of the Conversation. The event will conclude with a clear call to action, and recommendations from the panel will be shared with UN Women and CSW delegates. Your participation—whether in the room or online—helps amplify survivor voices and strengthens the call for justice that works for women and girls.

We hope you will join us—wherever you are.

From Showing Up to Shaping the Future

A single act or voice does not define leadership.

Leadership is shaped over time by those who learn the systems, build relationships, and imagine what could be, not just continue with “what is.” The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) reflects that kind of leadership. Something that is grounded in persistence, born of vision and collaboration.

From its earliest days, CSW was envisioned to be more than a forum for discussion. It was to be a permanent space where priorities and solutions could inform and form global policy, and it would do so from lived experience.

That vision was advanced by leaders working together across nations and perspectives: with individuals who understood that equality requires a structure and intention.

Among those early voices were leaders who shaped the human rights framework of the United Nations.

Eleanor Roosevelt can be counted among those whose work reinforced the importance of recognizing our rights and responsibilities and helping to develop the framework that would eventually become CSW.

Equally important were the many international leaders who ensured that the status of women globally would have its own platform. A platform that was not to be sidelined or absorbed into broader agendas.

Leadership grows through engagement.

The connection between early leaders and CSW today is not about a title or position. It is about vision.

Leadership at CSW has always grown by engaging, by listening before speaking, by learning before leading, and through collaboration across differences to move ideas forward.

Attending sessions, observing discussions, and engaging with global perspectives are the early stages of leadership. Every person who shows up, virtually or in person, gains insight into how advocacy works on an international scale.

From that understanding comes confidence and, while some might say confidence begats influence, I believe it leads to impact.

What does this mean for NFBPWC?

As members of NFBPWC, our connections to CSW place us within an ongoing legacy of leadership and vision. Some members attend CSW as spectators. Others support parallel events or collaborative efforts. All will bring ideas back to clubs, committees, and communities.

Every role matters.

Leadership does not require doing everything. It requires intentional participation.

Showing up is how leadership begins. Staying engaged is how leadership shapes the future.

Your January CSW Call to Action:

• Take one intentional step toward leadership:
• Show up for a CSW70 session (virtually or in person)
• Speak up by sharing one insight with your club or committee
• Connect with another member to explore shared advocacy interests
• Step forward by supporting a CSW-related initiative

One Choice. One Voice. One Moment at a time. Leadership grows through action.

Barbara J. Bozeman
National President
2024-2026

Hard to believe but it’s 2026 already. I hope you all had a lovely holiday season.

The International Executive met in early November for our annual Face-to-Face meeting. It was a very valuable and productive meeting with a lot of work accomplished. There was discussion about the 2027 IFBPW Congress and a location should be shared soon.

Work on our Member’s Survey is coming along very well and by the time you are reading this you may have received the link to complete it.

There was a pilot survey done to make sure it was right before it went out to all members, and we are very appreciative of the time and work that has been put into this survey.

It will be exciting to see the results so the International Executive can do the work to address any concerns to ensure the value of your membership is enhanced. Watch for it in your inbox around mid-January. We hope you will all take the time to complete it.

BPW Listens – Your Voice Matters

Planning continues on the North America and Caribbean Regional Conference on August 23 – 25, 2026. Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada is waiting for us!!!!

Registration and hotel information will be posted on the BPW Canada website in January, so check into the site regularly. And keep reading your magazine – more information will be here as we get closer to the big event.

We have some amazing speakers booked and you will find value in what they have to share.

I hope you have added the conference to your calendars – and that you plan to bring your family – Niagara Falls is beautiful and has a lot to offer everyone!

Here is the link with the preliminary agenda. North American & Caribbean (NAC) Regional Conference - BPW Canada.

Our Region will be hosting our 2nd Leadership Webinar on Thursday, February 5th. It is hosted by our Training Coordinator, Sujata Tiwari. Stay tuned right here for registration details.

Warm wishes as we progress through this new year.

Karin Gorgerat
BPW International
Regional Coordinator
North America and Caribbean

How We Celebrate and Innovate Through the Lens of the United Nations—A Call to Action for December

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Celebrate!

Reflect on one UN achievement or milestone from 2025 that resonat-ed with you. Whether it was pro-gress in women’s leadership, ad-vancements in climate commit-ments, humanitarian successes, or other breakthroughs. Understand-ing the wins helps us champion future progress.

Innovate!

Choose one UN priority you want to follow more closely in 2026. Is it AI ethics, global education initiatives, or sus-tainable development that interests you? Or something else, like economic justice or peace and security. Commit to deepen-ing your understanding and awareness and participation in 2026!

Engage!

Explore one UN resource you’re unfamiliar with this month. Whether it’s a briefing, a live event, or a global campaign. You could also consider how your club or com-mittee might connect with that work in the coming year.

As an NGO affiliated with BPW Interna-tional, our engagement connects the lived experiences of working women with the UN’s global priorities. Understanding the UN’s year-end direction helps us align our efforts, strengthening our advocacy and identifying opportunities for meaningful participation.

Barbara J. Bozeman
President 2024-2026

I would like to extend my best wishes and season’s greetings to all of you on behalf of our BPW sisters of North America and the Caribbean Region. As we reflect on all that has happened this past year, I hope you are all able to look back on 2025 with fond memories and a feeling of accomplishment for a job well done.

I also hope that many of you are planning on coming to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada August 23-25, 2026 to attend the North America and Caribbean Regional Conference. It promises to be a wonderful experience – a chance to meet BPW members from around our region and around the world and to learn things to take back to your clubs/affiliates. Please add these dates to your calendars and to your schedules – and bring your family to extend your time in this beautiful region.

I wish all of you a wonderful time during the holidays with your family and friends and good health and

happiness in 2026.

Karin Gorgerat
BPW International Regional Coordinator
North America and Caribbean

For information please email international@nfbpwc.org.

LARISA MILLER
BPW Galway & NFBPWC USA
International Relations Chair 2024-2026
International Liaison

The Power of Showing Up

As we close out 2025, it’s a perfect moment to celebrate one simple truth: every act of leadership starts with showing up. Whether you step into a meeting, turn on your camera for a virtual panel, or walk into a room where you are not yet sure of your place, showing up is the first act of courage that makes everything else possible.

This is especially true at the Commission on the Status of Women.

CSW will gather voices from around the world – activists, diplomats, educators, innovators, and women just like you who chose to be present. You don’t need to be an expert or a seasoned advocate. You just need to show up.

Why Showing Up Matters

One of the most impactful presentations this year was title “Stand Up and Speak Up.” The message was clear: when women stand up, speak up, and lean into their leadership, they transform every space they enter. But there is one part we sometimes overlook:

You cannot stand up, and you cannot speak up, if you never show up.

At CSW, being present, virtually or in person, is more than attendance. It is participation. It is visibility. It is claiming your space in the global conversation about women’s rights and equality.

Even as a spectator, you are learning the language of international advocacy, witnessing global collaboration, and becoming part of a movement much larger than any single club or country.

Your Invitation to Participate

This December, as we celebrate victories, connections, and community, consider how you can show up for CSW70:

• Attend sessions virtually or in person. NGO CSW/NY offers a full virtual platform, accessible, flexible, and designed for global participation.

• Experience the energy. Watch a briefing, sit in on a panel, or explore a grassroots presentation. Every session opens new doors.

• Be inspired by allies in action. CSW is full of partnerships, collaborations, and women helping women succeed.

And if you feel called to do more, this is the moment to begin shaping your own parallel event idea. NGO CSW/NY accepts virtual proposals from NGOs like ours. Your club’s work in technology, leadership, financial literacy, or community empowerment could be showcased on the global stage.

How to Start Strong

• Visit ngocsw.org to explore the details, schedules, and deadlines.

• Brainstorm program ideas with your club or committee.

• Partner with another club, federation, or organization to co-host an event.

• Connect with Emily VanVleck, VP Advocacy. She has the most current information and can help guide you through the steps.

Celebrate Your Strength

As you reflect on 2025, celebrate the moments when you showed up – for your community, for your club, for yourself. And then let that momentum carry you into CSW70, where your presence matters just as much as your contributions.

Showing up is leadership.

Showing up is advocacy.

Showing up is how change begins.

We invite you to show up for CSW70. Show up proudly, boldly, and ready to be part of the global movement for gender equality.

Some relevant resources: https://ngocsw.org/ https://www.facebook.com/unwomen https://www.facebook.com/NGOCSWNY https://indico.un.org/event/1020223/ https://www.unwomen.org/en/how-we-work/commission-on-the-status-of-women/csw70-2026

By Barbara J. Bozeman
National President