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