Institutions Grow Through Connection

It has been my honor to serve as Secretary of NFBPWC over the past two years. This has been a period of transition and movement, during which our Executive Committee worked together to meet both expected and unexpected challenges with commitment and continuity. In the same period, NFBPWC has strengthened its presence within BPW International, becoming a more active participant in the wider conversations that shape our Federation.

What has become increasingly clear to me is that institutions do not evolve through structure alone. They evolve through connection—between people, among levels, and between opportunity and experience.

Within NFBPWC, these connections span local clubs, the national Federation, and our engagement with BPW International. Each level has its own focus and energy, but the strength of the whole depends on how effectively these levels communicate, support one another, and recognize the value each brings to the wider community.

Moving among these spaces has shown me how often opportunity lies not only in formal structures, but in the connections we are able to make across them. As a global federation, we are defined not only by governance and meetings, but by the relationships that give our purpose meaning.

This became especially visible in several moments over the past two years. The 75th anniversary celebration of the Munich Club reflected both pride in its long history and the respect it continues to hold within its community.

Meetings in Montreal, Cyprus, Malta, and St. Kitts and Nevis demonstrated what becomes possible when members engage across borders and bring their experience into shared dialogue.

Engagement at the United Nations, both in committee work and international conferences, further reinforced how well-recognized and respected NFBPWC is within global conversations on women’s leadership and development.

These are not separate events. They reflect a single reality: connection is what transforms a federation from a collection of clubs into a living network of opportunity.

It is also clear that these opportunities are not always immediately visible. A global organization can appear distant when attention is focused locally, yet its value becomes most apparent when members step beyond their immediate context. In those moments, the same federation reveals itself as broader, more accessible, and more interconnected than it first appears.

This is one of the greatest strengths of NFBPWC. It lies not only in what we achieve individually or locally, but in what becomes possible when those efforts are linked across our sisterhood and extended into the wider BPW International community.

As I conclude this term, I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me as Secretary and for the opportunity to serve alongside committed colleagues. It has been a privilege to observe the work of our Federation from this vantage point and to witness the strength that comes from collaboration across levels and across borders.

Looking ahead, I remain optimistic about what lies before us. As we continue to strengthen the connections among members, clubs, and international partners, we will continue to unlock opportunities that are not yet fully visible. It is through these connections that institutions evolve, and through them that NFBPWC will continue to grow in relevance, reach, and impact.

Thank you for the privilege of serving as your Secretary, and for allowing me to be part of this chapter of our Federation’s ongoing story.

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