Every Member Matters: Growing Through Connection and Belonging

As we begin a new biennium, we have an opportunity to reflect on what membership truly means and to reimagine what it can become.

Membership is more than paying dues, attending meetings, or appearing on a roster. It is the experience of being welcomed, valued, connected, and empowered to contribute. It is knowing that your voice matters, your talents are recognized, and your involvement can make a difference.

NFBPWC has a proud legacy of advancing the interests of business and professional women through advocacy, leadership development, education, mentoring, networking, and service. As we honor that legacy, we must also prepare our organization to meet the changing needs of today’s women.

Women are seeking more than another organization to join. They are looking for meaningful relationships, professional and personal growth, opportunities to lead, and a community aligned with their values. Our responsibility is not simply to invite women into NFBPWC, it is to create an experience that inspires them to stay, participate, grow, and lead.

Our Vision for the New Term

Our vision is to build a stronger, more connected, inclusive, and sustainable membership base, one in which every member can clearly see and experience the value of belonging.

During this term, the Membership Committee will focus on four priorities:

Recruitment with intention. We will strengthen how we share the BPW story and invite women from diverse generations, professions, cultures, and communities to discover our organization.

A welcoming member experience. Joining is only the first step. Effective  onboarding, personal connections, mentoring, and early opportunities to participate will help new members feel they belong from the beginning.

Engagement and retention. As members, we remain connected when we feel seen, heard, appreciated, and involved. The committee will help clubs create meaningful pathways for members to use their talents, develop their leadership skills, support our mission, and build lasting relationships.

Stronger support for clubs and federations. Membership growth happens locally. The committee will develop practical resources, share successful practices, encourage collaboration, and use membership data to help clubs understand their strengths, challenges, and opportunities.

Every Member is an NFBPWC Ambassador

Membership growth is not the responsibility of one officer or committee. Every member has a role to play.

We grow when each of us shares why NFBPWC matters. We grow when we invite a colleague, friend, entrepreneur, emerging leader, or young professional to attend an event. We grow when we welcome a new member, make an introduction, listen to her ideas, and help her find a meaningful way to contribute.

Recruitment brings women through the door. Belonging gives them a reason to stay.

Imagine what we could accomplish if every member invited one woman to experience NFBPWC—and then personally helped her become connected. That single act, repeated across our clubs and federations, could strengthen our membership, expand our influence, and

Nicole Mpouli
VP Membership
vpmembership@nfbpwc.org

A Legacy of Developing Women Leaders

The Lifelong Leadership and Learning Committee (L3) has empowered generations of BPW women to grow as confident leaders, communicators, and advocates. While today's program reflects the evolving needs of modern leaders, its foundation was established more than 70 years ago.

The journey began in 1954, when the Sierra Mar District of the California Federation of Business and Professional Women created the Leadership Development Project to strengthen leadership skills and deepen members' understanding of the Federation. The seven-month program, inspired by the vision of Julia K. Arri, laid the groundwork for leadership development within BPW.

Upon completing their leadership training, participants were recognized with a Certificate of Completion, celebrating their commitment to leadership development.

In the early 1970s, the program became the Individual Development Program (IDP) and expanded across California and eventually throughout the nation. Its importance grew further in 1992 with BPW/USA's Building Women Power initiative, which recognized leadership development as a cornerstone of empowering working women.

A major milestone came in 1994, when Dr. Rosemary Agonito developed a standardized national IDP curriculum for all BPW clubs and federations. The program soon incorporated prepared and impromptu speaking competitions, helping countless women develop the confidence to lead both professionally and within their communities.

The curriculum continued to evolve, with a significant update in 2004 under the leadership of Dr. Trish Knight, with facilitator training and digital learning resources added in 2005.

In 2020, the NFBPWC Individual Development Committee modernized the program with updated content, PowerPoint presentations, and a new name: Lifelong Leadership and Learning (L3). The change reflected a simple but powerful truth—leadership is a lifelong journey of learning and growth.

Today, L3 offers a broad range of leadership development topics, including advocacy, networking, communication, project management, leadership versus management, business etiquette, the elevator pitch, stress management, and more. The committee continues to expand the curriculum while partnering with other NFBPWC committees to ensure the program remains relevant and impactful.

From its beginnings as a local leadership initiative to its role as NFBPWC's flagship leadership development program, L3 continues to equip women with the skills, confidence, and inspiration to lead with purpose and make a lasting difference.

Please work with your local leadership to ensure L3 activities are happening near you – and please follow the activity of the L3 Committee on the NFBPWC website and in the magazine so you become aware of far-away events you can attend by Zoom.

Nicole Mpouli
NFBPWC Virtual

Adapted from Lifelong Leadership and Learning – How It All Began, by Barbara J. Davis.

Your NFBPWC Magazine: YOUR VOICE

This magazine belongs to everyone and every member is encouraged to contribute to it.

If a submission focuses on the work of a specific club or committee, we ask that it be approved by that group’s President or Committee Chair prior to submission.

All other articles, such as personal reflections on our events or relevant news or contributions inspired by the monthly Editor’s Question are always welcome and may be submitted directly to the magazine at magazine@nfbpwc.org.

Barbara J. Bozeman, NFBPWC President

A New Day for L3: Introducing Mónica De la Torre

Please help me welcome Mónica De la Torre of BPW Paso Del Norte, Texas, as the new Chair of the Lifelong Leadership & Learning (L3) Committee. Monica is a compassionate leader, entrepreneur, and community advocate who brings resilience, purpose, and a deep commitment to empowering women and underserved communities. As a true bridge-builder who leads with both heart and intention, Monica is well positioned to guide L3 into its next chapter of growth, learning, and impact.

Nicole Mpouli
Immediate past chair

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Beginning My Term with Lifelong Leadership and Learning

As the creator and organizer of the First and Second Bi-national Women's Forums in El Paso, Texas, each held during International Women's Month, I have had the privilege of bringing together professionals, community leaders, and advocates to address topics including women's health, emotional wellness, body image, and self-discovery. These forums reignited my belief that education becomes truly powerful when it creates conversation, connection, and action.

And, because my first language is Spanish – I was born in Ciudad Juarez, Chih., across the border from El Paso, Texas – I can easily connect with different cultures, making it a wide opportunity to keep learning.

Outside of NFBPWC, I am a Bilingual Medical Assistant and have spent over 11 years coordinating logistics and events for BIFEM, an organization dedicated to women based on emotional support and personal development, helping create spaces where women could find encouragement, healing, and growth.

As L3 Chair, I can bring all my background and my ongoing commitment to women’s empowerment together with my logistical and collaborative abilities together to foster a culture where learning becomes a lifelong journey, leadership is cultivated through service, and every member feels empowered to contribute her unique talents. I believe that by investing in one another, sharing knowledge generously, and embracing collaboration across generations and communities, we strengthen not only our Federation but also the countless lives we touch through our work.

Together, we will continue the work of those who have brought us to this moment to build a committee that inspires growth, encourages innovation, celebrates diversity, and demonstrates that when women lead with purpose, they create lasting change.

I want to thank my predecessor, Nicole Mpouli for the work she did during her term and for the guidance and help she has provided as I begin mine.

We will encourage members to transform acquired knowledge into tangible community impact through service-learning projects aligned with NFPBWC mission.

Possible initiatives include:

• Community education events
• Women's empowerment workshops
• Volunteer outreach
• Advocacy campaigns
• Collaborative partnerships with local organizations

All this is designed to serve the goal of ensuring that every learning opportunity inspires meaningful action and measurable community impact.

Mónica De la Torre
Chair Lifelong Leadership & Learning
L3chair@nfbpwc.org

Advancing Women’s Leadership and Lifelong Learning

Over the past 18 months, the NFBPWC Lifelong Leadership and Learning Committee (L3) has worked to strengthen one of the most valuable benefits of membership: practical leadership development.

L3 is grounded in the belief that leader is not simply a title, but a lifelong journey of learning, confidence, service, and impact. The program helps members develop skills they can apply in their careers, businesses, clubs, and communities.

Revitalizing the L3 Program

During that time, the committee increased awareness of the program and redesigned its modules, which address BPW history, advocacy, public speaking, networking, DISC communication styles, interviewing, stress management, leadership, the Sustainable Development Goals, and other essential skills.

A major accomplishment was the L3 Jamboree, held October 10–11, 2025. Members explored 12 of our 24 new and updated modules through an engaging learning experience. NFBPWC and international members came together for a special moment of learning and sharing. At the end, participants were recognized with a stamped “passport” as Explorers, Adventurers, or World Navigators, based on the number of modules they completed.

In February 2026, we conducted two facilitator-training sessions to prepare members to facilitate or co-facilitate future workshops. This expanded our capacity to bring L3 training directly to clubs across the federation.

Bringing Training to Our Clubs

Our collaboration with BPW Paso Del Norte (details on p101) demonstrated how L3 can respond to specific club needs. Through a series of practical workshops, participants gained skills they could immediately apply to strengthen meetings, membership, sponsorship opportunities, communication, and club effectiveness.

Strengthening Membership Through Leadership

The impact of L3 goes beyond individual workshops. Leadership development contributes to member engagement, retention, and succession planning.

L3 helps clubs:

• Develop current and emerging leaders.
• Prepare members for club and federation positions.
• Increase confidence and participation.
• Offer meaningful professional-development opportunities.
• Demonstrate the value of NFBPWC membership.

When women experience growth through their membership, they are more likely to remain engaged, assume leadership responsibilities, and invite others to join.

Looking Ahead 

The past 18 months have seen L3 move from renewed vision to meaningful action. We have strengthened the program, increased its visibility, prepared facilitators, supported club development, and reinforced leadership-learning as an important membership benefit.

All this work would not have been possible without the collaboration of an amazing team who was engaged and committed to reviving and reinvigorating this great program.

Under its new leadership, the committee will continue to focus on expanding training opportunities, supporting facilitators, updating resources, gathering success stories, and partnering with more clubs.

Together, we can make L3 an essential part of every NFBPWC member’s journey, a pathway through which women continue to learn, lead confidently, and lift others as they rise.

When women join NFBPWC, they should not simply join an organization, they should join a community that invests in the leaders they are today and the leaders they are becoming.

Nicole Mpouli
NFBPWC Virtual

Is AI “Cheating” or Just Another Tool?

Lots of people have strong opinions about the use of AI. Problem is, most of them have never used it, have not learned what it can and cannot do, and don’t want to. To them, somehow, it’s cheating, or worse “doing your job for you.”

Now, while there are college students outsourcing their papers to it, most people use it as a tool to save time. And they understand that it can be wrong, a lot, so they check its responses. As for those students, they’re easy to catch, mostly because they’re lazy (as illustrated by using AI to do their work in the first place). They just feed in the prompt and hand in whatever pops up. At CU Denver, my department chair had students handing in bibliographies with journals that did not exist!

We’re lucky enough to have L3 presenting educational programs that address a myriad of topics we all need to know more about (like the pitch program I wrote about last month) but don’t have the time or money to find and attend courses on.

This month, the course was Actionable AI: Tools to Transform Your Personal and Professional Journey, presented by Andrea Hemming, BPW Sweden.

CRISP

Context: Who are you? What do you do? This allows the AI to know where to begin thinking about the question.

Role: position, are you asking as the marketing director, the CFO, a student? This gives it more information about what approach to take.

Instruction: Tell it what to do as specifically as possible, use strong action verbs—max two.

Structure: Format, how do you want the output to look – bullets, chart, graph, table, email, article, cartoon, realistic image, etc. It doesn’t know if you don’t tell it.

Polish: Iterate, a lot. Have it refine its answer multiple times with tweaks from you, ask it to critique itself, then refine it yourself.

We started by talking about how those who use it regularly use it: initial research, summarizing long documents, translating legalese or other jargon into plain English, triaging email, synthesizing lots of information, drafting initial content, and more.

It did seem odd to me when Andrea and others talked about “building a relationship with it,” after all, it’s a artificial (it’s right in the name), what kind of relationship can I have with a bunch of pixels on a screen?

But, upon further explanation, it makes perfect sense. If you want it to triage your email so some senders or topics show up on top no matter when they arrive, it needs to know what you think is important. It can only do what we teach it to do and, while companies around the world are feeding the sum of human knowledge into it every day, it knows nothing about what you need unless you tell it.

Andrea gave us a useful acronym to help us formulate more effective questions: CRISP (See explanation on previous page.)

Those last four words are the most important, and the ones knee-jerk critics assume are missing. Readers can tell when something has been written by a human or is “AI slop” (yes, that is the industry term). And no one wants to read the latter.

That’s where its utility meshes with your creativity, knowledge, and humanness.

It’s a tool, like a calculator to tell me how much to tip, a browser to search for the answer to a question or find a nearby restaurant, or an elevator to help people get up and down the stairs more easily (its invention, btw, led to the creation of the skyscraper).

It takes over some of the more routine, rote, time-consuming elements, but it cannot replace people – not now, not ever.

And, you can connect it to other apps such as email, word, excel, whatever you use often enough that you want something drafted in that format so you can do the thinking rather than the formatting.

You can also ask it to tell you how to do whatever you want it to do with it, or anything else. I would not recommend using it to contemplate brain surgery or advanced rocketry, but it can tell you how to change the chain on your bike in more detail than a YouTube video, or how to create a pie chart in word.

So, next time someone says they used AI to help them with a project, instead of automatically assuming AI did the work for them, ask them how they used it:

Did it collect information from a bunch of experts they would have spent hours searching for?

• Did it pull together a bunch of disparate facts into a coherent whole they could use to create a complex article?
• Did it break something complex into a series of easy-to-follow steps they reviewed and edited to help you do or learn something or put the steps into the best order to use to teach it to someone else?

Then ask them how they think it could take some of the menial work off your plate so you can concentrate on the creative aspects of whatever you’re doing.

Nicole Mpouli
Chair Lifelong Leadership & Learning (L3)
L3Chair@nfbpwc.org

Wellness is NOT a Luxury: It’s a Necessity for Women’s Well being

From boardrooms, to classrooms, to communities, to homes, we wear multiple hats every day. We are daughters, sisters, spouses, mothers, professionals, entrepreneurs, care givers, community builders.

The pressure to “do it all” is real, and often unspoken. Over time, it can lead to burnout, chronic stress, and even disengagement from the very things we care about most.

But the truth is, we don’t have to do everything all the time, we can prioritize what matters most now.

This is where wellness shifts from being a “nice to have” to a strategic tool for sustainable well-being.

More Than Physical Health: A Holistic View of Wellness

Too often, wellness is reduced to exercise routines and healthy eating. While those are important, true wellness goes deeper. It is holistic and interconnected encompassing:

• Mental clarity: the ability to think, focus, and make sound decisions. 
• Emotional resilience: the ability to manage stress, navigate challenges, and maintain inner balance.
• Physical vitality: the ability to sustain energy, strength, and overall health. 
• Spiritual alignment: the ability to live with purpose and stay connected to what truly matters.
• Intentional self-nurturing: choosing, every single day, to invest in yourself first.

When one of these dimensions is neglected, the others are impacted. A thriving woman, especially a woman in leadership, understands that investing in her well-being is not indulgent; it is essential.

The Power of Routine: Small Moments, Big Impact

Wellness does not require a complete life overhaul. In fact, the most powerful transformations often come from consistent, simple routines.

Our bodies and minds respond to repetition. The small, intentional actions we take daily, whether in the morning or at night, create stability, reduce stress, and build resilience over time.

Taking 10, 20, or even 30 of the 1,440 minutes in a day to care for yourself is not something to feel guilty about. It is an investment with exponential returns.

My Morning Routine. Owning My Day

It’s not about waking up at 4:00 am, it’s about what I do with my mornings.

• I start with GRATITUDE. Realizing that I am alive, I am breathing, I can move; it’s a blessing. 
• I stretch in my bed. Small stretches at my comfort level.
• I pray/meditate. Whatever you feel comfortable doing. But this is about connecting with something bigger than you.
• I work out. In my living room. My new discovery is the free Tai Chi exercises on YouTube. 10-15 minutes.
• I set my intention for the day. How do I want to show up today, regardless of what happens? That’s my choice, my power.

Wellness is not a luxury reserved for when everything else is done. It is the foundation that allows everything else to be done well.

Just Ask Texas

BPW Paso Del Norte continues to invest in building strong, confident leaders through impactful L3 programming.

A recent workshop on Effectively Leading Meetings in Alignment with Robert’s Rules of Order equipped members with practical tools to run efficient, purpose-driven meetings, strengthening both leadership effectiveness and organizational growth.

The second workshop covered Strategic Recruitment empowered members to attract and engage aligned, high-quality members. Members from Washington State and Ohio attended, expanding the conversation and its impact on all attendees.

Building on this momentum, upcoming sessions on Engaging Sponsors and Self-Confidence will focus on expanding influence, mobilizing resources, and empowering women to lead with clarity, presence, and impact.

Nicole Mpouli
Chair Lifelong Leadership & Learning (L3)

The 2030 Challenge: How Women and Girls can Leverage AI to Accelerate SDGs

On March 16, 2026, NFBPWC held a CSW70 Virtual Parallel event on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). NFBPWC advances the SDGs through leadership development, economic empowerment, advocacy, and UN engagement. We mobilize women at local and national levels to support gender equality, sustainable development, policy advocacy, and global partnerships aligned with the 2030 Agenda.

During the event, these interconnected messages stood out:

“We cannot achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 without technology—and without women shaping it.”

“AI is not just a tool—it is a leadership opportunity for women to shape the future of our societies.”

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a future concept. It is a present-day accelerator of impact. The real question is: Will women shape AI—or be shaped by it?

AI AS A FORCE FOR GOOD:

Healthcare (SDG 3)

AI improves maternal health outcomes through early diagnosis and remote care solutions

Education (SDG 4)

AI enables personalized learning, giving girls access to education anytime and anywhere.

Economic Empowerment (SDGs 5 & 8)

Women entrepreneurs can automate operations, analyze markets and scale faster with fewer resources.

Climate Action (SDG 13)

Women-led initiatives use AI to monitor environmental changes and build resilient communities.

Nicole Mpouli
Chair Lifelong Leadership
& Learning
L3Chair@nfbpwc.org

In today’s dynamic and interconnected world, effective communication is essential for leadership, business, career advancement, and advocacy. The ability to express ideas clearly, build relationships, and influence outcomes determines how women are heard, and how they connect with each other and with others.

Recognizing this, the Lifelong Leadership & Learning (L3) Committee has placed communication, confidence, and professional presence at the heart of our redesigned curriculum. These modules equip women with

practical tools to communicate with clarity, authenticity, and impact across diverse professional and cultural settings.

A key component of the program is Using the DISC Model of Human Behavior to Live and Work More Effectively, which helps participants understand their own communication styles and those of others. By improving interpersonal awareness, we can strengthen collaboration, reduce misunderstandings, and lead more effectively within teams and organizations.

Public speaking (often cited as one of the greatest fears) is addressed through Delivering Oral Presentations: From Stage Fright to Stage Fabulous and Designing Effective Presentations. These modules provide strategies to organize ideas, engage audiences, manage anxiety, and deliver compelling messages with confidence.

The curriculum also emphasizes advocacy and professional readiness. Through Using Your Voice: Advocating for Yourself and Interview Skills, participants learn to articulate their value, respond confidently under pressure, and pursue opportunities with clarity and assurance.

Equally important is professional presence. Communication extends beyond words to include behavior, etiquette, and credibility. The Business Etiquette module prepares women to navigate formal and informal professional environments with confidence, cultural sensitivity, and professionalism.

Together, these modules form a comprehensive toolkit that empowers women to present ideas persuasively, build meaningful professional relationships, and amplify their voices in spaces where decisions are made.

By strengthening individual’s communication skills, these classes help L3 help women move from participation to influence, enabling them to advocate for themselves, lead with authenticity, and contribute to meaningful change in their workplaces, communities, and beyond. Because when women communicate with confidence and purpose, they do not just join the conversation, they shape it.

Resources:
“Everyone Communicates Few Connect”
John C. Maxwell
“The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking”
Dale Carnegie.

L3 In Motion

The Lifelong Leadership & Learning (L3) Committee continues to advance its com-mitment to empowering women through intentional leadership development and continuous growth.

Our mission:

To provide accessible, high-quality lifelong learning opportunities that empower women to develop leadership ca-pacity, strengthen pro-fessional skills, and ad-vance personal growth through education, col-laboration, and practical application.

We believe that leadership is a journey of continuous learning, reflection, and action. Through dynamic workshops, interactive sessions, and col-laborative engagement, the L3 program creates spaces where women can sharpen their skills, expand their perspectives, and lead with greater confidence and impact.

An Exciting Announcement

The L3 Committee is pleased to announce the launch of the BPW Paso Del Norte Virtual Workshops, beginning Saturday, March 28th.

These Zoom sessions will provide members with practical tools, leadership in-sights, and meaning-ful dialogue designed to strengthen both personal and profes-sional effectiveness.

This initiative reflects our ongoing commit-ment to bringing learning opportuni-ties directly to you, through our clubs, federations, and affili-ates wherever you are!

Nicole Mpouli
Chair Lifelong Leadership
& Learning
L3Chair@nfbpwc.org

On February 6th, I will have the honor of representing NFBPWC at the Heart of a Woman Conference in Houston, Texas, an inspiring gathering dedicated to advancing awareness, prevention, and care for heart disease in women.

Set against a backdrop of connection, vitality, and shared purpose, the conference brings together women across generations, professions, and communities to engage in meaningful conversations about health as a cornerstone of leadership, impact, and long-term success.

More than an event, the Heart of a Woman Conference is a call to action—inviting women to listen to their bodies, uplift one another, and lead boldly in shaping conversations that influence policy, practice, and public awareness.

Nicole Mpouli
Chair
Lifelong Leadership
& Learning
L3Chair@nfbpwc.org