From Awareness to Action: How Heart of a Woman Changed my Perspective

In 2018, NFBPWC began a powerful partnership with Houston Methodist Hospital and the vibrant NFBPWC Houston organization. I attended the inaugural event alongside 2016–2018 NFBPWC President Elizabeth Benham, unaware at the time that heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States.

Under the leadership of NFBPWC Houston President Paola Ferrari, the local organization worked closely with national leadership and Houston Methodist to create what became the Heart of a Woman event—an impactful partnership that continues today.

Its legacy endures by “educating physicians, nurses, and the entire care team about the gender-specific symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of heart disease, and how women can proactively improve their own heart health.” Find more information here.

When I attended the Heart of a Woman conference, I had not yet been diagnosed with high blood pressure. Listening to the stories of women—both younger and older than me—was enlightening and deeply moving.

I heard accounts of women whose symptoms were dismissed in emergency rooms, whose experiences were discounted by medical professionals, and who had to fight to receive appropriate care.

I also learned from physicians who were passionate about closing the knowledge gap around women and heart disease in order to save lives.

That experience fundamentally shifted my perspective. When I received my own diagnosis in 2020, I drew on what I had learned, revisiting the information and beginning my medical journey informed, empowered, and prepared.

With all my heart—pun intended—I strongly encourage our members to attend the upcoming Heart of a Woman event on February 6, 2026. What you learn truly might save a life.

Register here.

MEGAN SHELLMAN-RICKARD
Immediate Past President
2024-2026

Heart of a Woman: What do those words mean to you?

Anatomically women have smaller and more delicate hearts compared to men.

In contrast, when someone uses the idiom ‘she’s all heart’ it means that a woman is kind, caring, and generous. Women are the heart of most families and organizations. Women are strong and determined to keep their hearts protected and do their best to protect the hearts of others. What are some things you need to do to protect your heart? Change your diet, your standards, your schedule? Make sure you prioritize your heart in all that you do.

Dr. Joanne Carfoli Naylor
National Treasurer
2024-2026
treasurer@nfbpwc.org

Equity, Balance, and Confidentiality in Nonprofit Leadership

After giving this subject some thought, I decided to research and understand it better. This article incorporates my research into a single document, for my benefit and that of anyone else interested in expanding their understanding.

Nonprofit leaders operate in an environment where scrutiny is constant and often personal. Unlike the private sector, nonprofit work is fueled by mission, trust, and public confidence—making it especially vulnerable to destabilization. When individuals inside or outside an organization call leadership, strategy, or integrity into question, the response cannot be reactive or performative. It must be disciplined, principled, and strategically restrained.

Equanimity in nonprofit leadership begins with unwavering clarity of mission. When the purpose is clear, destabilizing narratives lose their power. Leaders grounded in mission can assess criticism without internalizing it. They understand that not all challenges are about improvement; some are about control, fear of change, or competing agendas. The ability to discern motive is essential. Responding to every accusation as if it were valid feedback is a costly mistake.

Nonprofit leaders often face pressure to “be transparent” in ways that are neither ethical nor responsible. Transparency is frequently misunderstood as full disclosure. In reality, ethical leadership requires discernment. Many nonprofit decisions involve confidential donor information, sensitive partnerships, personnel matters, or vulnerable populations. Disclosing prematurely or excessively to satisfy critics can violate trust, compromise safety, and undermine the mission itself.

Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another,

we’re strongest when we cheer each other on. -Serena Williams

Confidentiality is not secrecy—it is stewardship. Leaders who safeguard information signal stability and seriousness. Those who breach confidentiality to defend themselves erode credibility and invite further destabilization. Once confidentiality is compromised, trust fractures—internally with staff and boards, and externally with funders and beneficiaries. The damage is rarely reversible.

Balance under attack requires emotional discipline. Destabilization often works by provoking urgency and moral panic. Nonprofit leaders are  articularly susceptible because they care deeply about impact and reputation. But urgency is not a strategy. Leaders who respond emotionally, defensively, or publicly escalate conflict shift attention away from mission outcomes. Calm, measured leadership deprives destabilizing forces of momentum.

A sharper truth must be stated: not every critic deserves a platform. In nonprofit spaces, criticism is often framed as accountability, but accountability has structure. It operates through boards, audits, governance processes, and defined channels—not through rumor, social pressure, or informal campaigns. Leaders who bypass governance to appease noise weaken the organization and set dangerous precedents. 

Equanimity also depends on role clarity. When nonprofit leaders blur boundaries—attempting to be emotionally available to everyone while making high-stakes decisions—they become vulnerable to manipulation. Strong leadership requires holding the line between compassion and authority. One can be humane without being porous. Balance is not softness; it is containment.

Confidential counsel is essential. No nonprofit leader should manage destabilization alone. A tight circle of board leadership, legal advisors, and senior staff—aligned around mission and ethics—provides perspective and protection. These relationships allow leaders to process complexity without exposure, to refine strategy without leakage, and to remain steady in public.

Process is the nonprofit leader’s strongest defense. Clear documentation, ethical frameworks, board oversight, and decision trails shift the conversation from personality to principle. Destabilization thrives in ambiguity. Strong governance starves it. Leaders who invest in process do not need to over-explain; the organization speaks for itself.

It is also critical to accept that some people will misunderstand—or deliberately misrepresent—the work. Nonprofits engaged in change often disrupt existing power structures. Resistance is not evidence of failure. Attempting to correct every narrative is a distraction. Leaders who remain focused on outcomes, not optics, preserve momentum.

A sharp nonprofit leader understands this: silence, when intentional, is not avoidance—it is authority. Choosing not to engage publicly can protect beneficiaries, staff, and partners. It signals confidence in governance and trust in time. Over-communication, by contrast, often signals instability.

Finally, equanimity requires long-range thinking. Missions unfold over years, not news cycles. Leaders who hold the long view are less reactive and more decisive. They know that credibility is built through consistency, not constant defense.

In nonprofit leadership, composure is not a personality trait—it is an ethical obligation. Equanimity protects the mission. Balance protects the people. Confidentiality protects trust. Leaders who can hold all three under pressure do more than survive destabilization; they strengthen the institution’s capacity to serve.

True nonprofit leadership is revealed not in moments of praise, but in moments of pressure. Those who hold the center when challenged preserve the work that matters most.

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

Advocacy is at the heart of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs. It is how we translate our values into impact, transform lived experiences into policy change, and ensure that women’s voices are not only heard—but acted upon.

As we move forward together, this moment calls for renewed energy, sharpened tools, and collective action.

On February 7th, NFBPWC will host Grow Your Advocacy Efforts: Tools, Tactics, and Best Practices, a dynamic event designed to empower members at every stage of their advocacy journey.

Whether you are new to policy engagement or a seasoned advocate, this session will introduce new advocacy tools available for all members to elevate your impact.

We will explore how to build a local legislative watch team, effectively engage elected officials, leverage coalition power, communicate issues with clarity, and sustain advocacy efforts over time.

Advocacy is not a one-time action, it is a skill set, and like any skill, it grows stronger when nurtured intentionally.

We are also continuing our ongoing financial boycott in support of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). On the 28th of each month we encourage members to halt spending, and to do this every month until the ERA is enshrined in the Constitution as the 28th Amendment. Economic power has long been a catalyst for social change and this action is a reminder that advocacy extends beyond legislative chambers. By aligning our spending with our values, we send a clear message: equality is non-negotiable.

The ERA represents a fundamental promise—that rights shall not be denied or abridged on the basis of sex—and our collective participation reinforces the urgency of its recognition and en-forcement.

These actions reflect a broader truth about advocacy within BPW:

I encourage every member to engage in the ways that feel most accessible and sustainable to you. Advocacy is not about perfection; it is about persistence. When we act collectively, we build a future where gender equity is not aspirational but guaranteed.

Emily VanVleck
National VP Advocacy
2024-2026
vpadvocacy@nfbpwc.org

A Moment to Reflect and Reconnect

Membership is not a fixed thing, nor is it meant to stand still over time. It shifts as our lives, careers, and priorities shift. Taking a moment to be clear about what you want from this year helps ensure your membership remains relevant, meaningful, and aligned with where you are now.

February is a great time to pause and take stock of your place in BPW. Not because anything is wrong, but because with our recent annual membership update and as we now look ahead – as YOU look ahead to 2026 and ask the questions: How did 2025 go? and How do I want 2026 to be for me?

BPW International is also in reflection mode, with an eye toward what comes next. In the coming weeks, you will receive a notification from NFBPWC with a link to a member survey that has been created through a collaboration of the regions. Sandy Thompson is our Ambassador (NAC) for this effort. For more information about the survey – please read Sandy’s article and when you receive the link, please give it your thoughtful attention. Your voice is an important part of our picture.

The Membership Committee has been busy working on reviewing and updating our membership touchpoints. We are reviewing the Membership Brochure, the Membership Benefits page, and other areas of the website. Not only are we looking at language and layout, but also clarity. We want to be sure what we present to the world aligns with what we offer and what our members find of value. The Affiliates are either in the process of finishing their individual brochures or have already completed them.

So let us pause and ask you this:

February Call to Action for Members:

Membership
vpmembership@nfbpwc.org

Send us your feedback, ideas, or reflections at vpmembership@nfbpwc.org

Women’s Leadership and Vision

Every woman has been a leader at least once in her life. My preschool friends are always asking to be the Line Leader. 

Yesterday, my friend Josie led the class to the office singing Christmas carols. She had a HUGE SMILE on her face as she was shaking her reindeer bells and singing. She noticed when she turned left everyone else followed and when she stopped everyone stopped too. I know with the right guidance and support she will continue to develop her leadership skills. Strong women leaders are everywhere!

Vision is also important for leading.

You need to know where you are going to lead your followers. For Josie, it was from the classroom to the office and back to the classroom. It was a simple vision, and it was successful.

I am sure she also had visions of the treats that waited in the classroom for after the singing trip. All visions start with a single goal. We all have a vision of how things could be ...we just need the right guidance and support!

Finding support for a vision is sometimes challenging, especially when tough decisions need to be made.

Supporters need guidance and support, too. Communication between the leader and supporters is key! Every vision includes modifications and accountability!

When a supporter decides they don't want to support the leadership or vision anymore, they may need to leave quietly, not talk negatively about the vision or leader they once supported.

The Suffragettes were strong women leaders with a vision for ALL WOMEN! They ALL experienced challenges and decided whether or not they would support the vision we continue to develop today, 107 years later.

I urge EVERY member of NFBPWC to review the vision of the organization and support the women who have decided to LEAD!

Step up and not just be counted but also accountable for upholding and continuing to develop future women leaders with a common vision: Empowering, educating, and supporting women to improve the lives of ALL women.

Start 2026 by UPDATING your NFBPWC membership profile! Help us start the new year with a CLEAR Vision of how you will support ALL WOMEN!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Dr. Joanne Carfoli Naylor
Treasurer

Preparing for Cold Weather: Staying Save Through Power Outages and Car Problems

Cold weather can be inconvenient at best and dangerous at worst — especially when it brings power outages, heating failures, and vehicle trouble. Preparation doesn’t require expensive equipment or expert knowledge, but it does require thinking ahead. A few practical steps taken before temperatures drop can protect your safety, your home, and your peace of mind.

Start with Your Home

The first priority during cold weather is staying warm indoors. If you rely on electricity or gas for heat, assume there may be interruptions. Identify the warmest room in your home and plan to use it as your primary living space during an outage. Close off unused rooms, hang blankets over doorways, and use draft blockers or rolled towels at windows and doors to reduce heat loss.

Layering is far more effective than one heavy garment. If you use space heaters, make sure they are in good working order and kept well away from curtains, bedding, or furniture. Never use grills, ovens, or fuel-powered heaters indoors, as they can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Install carbon monoxide and smoke detectors if you do not already have them, and check batteries before winter begins.

Plan for Power Outages

Even short outages can become serious in freezing temperatures. Prepare an outage kit. If you have a generator, learn how to use it safely and only operate it outdoors, far from windows or vents. Keep your phone charged when storms are forecast and save important phone numbers somewhere other than in your phone in case internet access is unavailable.

Protect Water and Pipes

Frozen pipes can cause significant damage. Insulate exposed pipes and disconnect outdoor hoses before temperatures drop. On especially cold nights, let faucets drip slightly to keep water moving. Know how to shut off your home’s main water valve in case a pipe bursts and keep that area accessible.

Prepare Your Car for Winter

Vehicle trouble is far more dangerous in cold weather, especially if you become stranded. Keep at least half a tank of gas in your car during winter storms to avoid fuel line freeze-ups and to allow you to run the engine briefly for heat if necessary. Every vehicle should carry a winter emergency kit, especially if you drive in rural or snowy areas.

If you become stranded, stay in your vehicle unless help is clearly nearby. Run the engine periodically for heat but ensure the exhaust pipe is clear of snow.

Plan for Communication and Check-ins

Cold weather emergencies are easier to manage when people look out for one another. Arrange check-ins with family, neighbors, or friends — especially older adults, people living alone, or those with health conditions. If you live in an apartment building or community, know where warming centers or emergency shelters are located. Local governments often announce these locations ahead of major cold events.

Prepare Mentally, Not Just Physically

Cold weather emergencies can be stressful and isolating. Preparing ahead reduces panic and helps you make better decisions. Keep important documents in a waterproof folder, know your evacuation routes if applicable, and review plans with household members.

Finally, remember that preparation is not about fear — it’s about resilience. Small steps taken now can prevent emergencies from becoming crises and allow you to weather winter challenges safely and confidently.

I encourage you to print this checklist and use it to prepare yourself for all cold weather possibilities.

Nermin K. Ahmad
Secretary

Celebration and Anticipation

December is a month with many celebrations. My family and I celebrate many things, such as good heath, good grades, good friends, and a break from the daily grind of school and work.

Every day, I get to celebrate the successes of the children I work with because every new sound, word, and sentence is a reason for celebration.

I also get to celebrate the successes of my daughter who is working hard in her college classes and will be home for her holiday break soon.

I challenge you to look at all the celebrations you have had during this year and will have during this month. Anticipation is another thing that happens every day and especially on New Year's Eve. What is your New Year's Resolution going to be?

I hope that all of you have a magical December and have plans for an exciting 2026.

Dr. Joanne Carfoli Naylor
Treasurer

Effective Collaboration Among Women Post-Conference Musings

It appears that collaboration among women matters more today because the world is more connected, more complex, and more demanding—and because women have more opportunities and more to protect than ever before. By working together, we amplify influence, accelerate progress, and ensure that no one must navigate modern challenges alone. But are we effective? Or are we caught in historic battles?

In preparing for my presentation at the 7th BPW Mediterranean Symposium, The Balance of Power: Gender, Economy, Leadership, which was held in Chile this year, I wanted to see how European women compared to women in the US in terms of effective feminism and activities. I was surprised to discover that while we are strong activists, our effectiveness is undermined by a weaker collaborative infrastructure. Our powerful grassroots movements, cultural influence (supported by academic and youth activism), and diversity of voices shaping the conversation are offset through weak structural and government support, unusually high political polarization, low social safety nets, and, of course fragmentation across the states.

What is it we are missing? And where can NFBPWC be more effective in making change happen? Countries with strong feminist collaboration often benefit from universal healthcare, subsidized childcare, strong worker protection, and paid parental leave – we lack these foundations in the US. As this varies across states, we experience inconsistent legal protections, resource gaps, and regional activist silos. It does not make things easier that we are so polarized on gender topics, which has a major impact on workplace equity. Our federal approach means there is no systematic gender-based policy analysis, no consistent funding for feminist NGOs, and no single robust federal gender-equality office.

On the upside, we have a long history of strong independent feminist movements, including intersectional movements, thanks to grassroots and digital organizing. And we have a major cultural influence through which U.S. feminism shapes the narrative to amplify core points internationally. Women’s groups in the US provide strong support for entrepreneurial women and women in leadership, which is highly effective overseas.

The countries most widely recognized for strong, collaborative, feminist support across policy, activism, and culture areArgentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, Rwanda, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden. The EU and Latin America are even recognized for strong cross-border feminist collaboration!

To be fair – feminist ideals are changing. They have become more intersectional yet personal, more holistic, and digitally mediated, they are less label-driven and more emotionally and socially oriented, they are more flexible about femininity and lifestyle choices. So, it is not so much a single definition, but multiple, lived options.

Empowerment is also defined more broadly. Where it used to mean climbing corporate ladders, breaking glass ceilings, and being independent at all costs, now it can mean boundaries, choosing family, rejecting burnout, and getting rest, as well as having financial autonomy.

It was interesting to hear the conversation on numbers of women in government. While one side pushed for equality in terms of numbers of men and women, the others pressed for equity – with far more than gender at stake. They looked at race, class, body size, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and neurodiversity. When some women mentioned the patriarchy, others talked about systemic bias, power structures, capitalism, safety, and wellness. It seems as if the focus is shifting to lived experience from legal equality.

We also pondered why women seem to stand in the way of their own success. Or do they? After all, we navigate social conditioning, structural barriers, unequal expectations, backlash, lack of effective networks, and biased evaluation systems. Is “self-sabotage” really self-protection?

These discussions were critical for me, as I mentor younger women and help them navigate choices that are vastly different in some ways than those available to me at their age, but also include fears that I never had to face.

If the EU and Latin America can create regional support systems, maybe we need to consider investing in our North American and Caribbean region to collaborate and truly achieve a level of meaningful change in our region.

Nermin K. Ahmad
Secretary

Allies in Action for Women’s Rights

The movement for women’s rights has always been driven by collaboration — women and allies working together to challenge inequality, uplift one another, and transform systems that limit opportunity. Today, as the conversation around gender equity continues to evolve, and in many instances devolve, the need for active allies has never been greater.

Being an ally goes beyond offering words of support. True allies listen, learn, and take action. They use their voices and their influence to advocate for fairness, respect, and representation. They bravely challenge bias in workplaces, communities, and institutions. Most importantly, they stand beside women — not in front of them or behind them — in the pursuit of justice and equality.

Allies recognize that women’s rights are human rights. When women thrive, families, communities, and economies grow stronger. Yet progress doesn’t happen by accident; it happens because people make the deliberate choice to act and create space for others to do so.

The National Federation of Business and Professional Women Clubs (NFBPWC) has a long and proud history of turning advocacy into action. As our advocacy platform guides the Advocacy Committee and our organization, NFPBPWC provides the space to be an ally with programs like Young BPW and the Lifelong Leadership and Learning Program (L3). Members and allies work together to empower women to reach their full potential in leadership, business, and civic life. From mentoring and professional development to legislative advocacy and community service, NFPBPWC encourages every member to become an ally in their own sphere of influence. By supporting equal pay,   leadership   opportunities,   and inclusive workplaces, our members and allies help build a future where equity is not just a goal — it’s a reality.

Allies in Action for Women’s Rights is a call to collective leadership. Movements led by women have always been strengthened by partnerships that cross gender, age, and cultural lines. When men and women work together with mutual respect and shared purpose, we build stronger pathways toward equality. NFBPWC exemplifies this spirit of partnership every day. Members advocate at local, state, national, and international levels to advance women’s economic empowerment and human rights. Together, we stand as a unified force for progress.

Real change requires both courage and consistency. Each of us can be an ally — by listening, learning, speaking up, and showing up. Whether you’re mentoring a young leader, advocating for workplace equity, or standing up for women’s rights in your community, your action matters.

Because when allies move from awareness to action, progress accelerates. And when we act together, we create a world where every woman’s rights are recognized, respected, and realized.

Please continue to reach out to me personally or professionally as we continue our work to make NFBPWC a better organization, because together we are stronger. To contact me please email immpastpresident@nfbpwc.org

MEGAN SHELLMAN-RICKARD
Immediate Past President

BE AN ALLY IN ACTION

Join NFBPWC and become part of a global network committed to empowering

women and advancing equality for all.

Learn more and get involved at www.nfbpwc.org