Women in History: Leading the Change for a Sustainable Future

Women have long been at the heart of movements that protect communities, restore ecosystems, and champion a healthier planet. Their leadership blends vision, collaboration, and a deep understanding that sustainability is about both people and the environment.

From Wangari Maathai, who mobilized women across Kenya to plant millions of trees, to Rachel Carson, whose work sparked the modern environmental movement, women have consistently reshaped how the world understands stewardship and responsibility.

Leaders like Gro Harlem Brundtland helped define sustainable development itself, linking environmental health with economic and social well-being.

Women’s leadership in sustainability is rooted in lived experience. When natural resources are strained or communities face climate-related challenges, women are often the first to respond and the strongest advocates for long‑term solutions. Their approaches emphasize equity, resilience, and community empowerment.

As we look ahead, envisioning a sustainable future means placing women’s leadership at the center. Imagine communities where women guide climate strategy, girls see themselves as innovators and policymakers, and environmental decisions reflect the voices of those most affected.

The women who came before us laid the foundation. The women leading today are carrying the work forward. And the women rising now will shape a future where communities thrive and the planet is protected for generations.

When women lead, sustainability becomes not just a goal, but a shared, achievable vision.

NFBPWC AMBITIONS

• Equal participation of women and men in power and decision-making roles.
• Take professional responsibility on all levels in the economy, politics, and society.
• Think and act locally, nationally, and globally.
• Engage in networking and mentoring programs.
• Continuous development of personal and professional skills through the Lifelong Leadership and Learning (L3) Program.
• Develop the professional, business, and leadership potential of all women.
• Work cooperatively with the United Nations and other national and international organizations.

Angie Jackson-Wilson
Chair Bylaws & Resolutions
bylaws@nfbpwc.org

Considering Women’s History Month draws me to books – truth be told, most everything does. In this case, there’s a wealth of history about the how women have rebelled against the proscribed roles society wanted to foist upon them.

Here are just three of the non-fiction options I found with brief summaries based on those written in reviews and on their publisher’s websites.

The Once and Future Sex: Going Medieval on Women's Roles in Society by Eleanor Janega

The more things change, the more they stay the same, or so says this history that examines the role of woman in society in a time when their prospects were incredibly narrow social and cultural punishments for stepping out of line were extreme. This is a pop-cultural approach that traces the origin of many lasting misogynistic views of women over time, and gives us anecdotes from the historical record about the women who moved ignored them.

Queens of Jerusalem: The Women Who Dared to Rule by Katherin Pangonis

Sometimes the most important aspect of a historical record is what is left out. This is especially true of official records, mainly written by, about, and for men – it is called HIStory, after all. This book highlights the queens and princesses who ruled Medieval Palestine with political agency and deft decision making. Women who were incredibly influential in their time but have largely been ignored until now.

When Women Ruled the World: Making the Renaissance in Europe by Maureen Quilligan 

Mary Tudor, Elizabeth I, Mary, Queen of Scots, Catherine de’ Medici: these names have resonated in history books for centuries, often cast as rivals, but a closer look at their relationships shows how their mutual respect produced peace, which led to widespread political and artistic creativity.

It’s probably safe to say that while some NFBPWC members are quiet regal, and many are strong and gracious leaders within and outside our organization, none of us are actually royalty or imbued with the kind of wide-spread recognition and power some of the women in these books were. That stated, however, every one of us is descended in spirit if not genetically from them all.

Theirs are the shoulders upon which we stand. The achievements that paved the way to where we are today. The lives that inspire us to make more of our own, to make the world safer and more equal for the women and girls of today, and to lay the foundations for future generations to build on.

One of the ways we can do this is through NFBPWC. If you’ve been on the fence about volunteering to work on a committee, suggesting an event or recruitment drive for your state’s club, even running for local or national office – now is the time to climb down on the side of YES!

Yes, you can add one more thing to your crowded plate – because your plate is made of solid stuff, ceramic or stone, rather than the soggy paper so many women are relegated to holding around the world in cultures that devalue and degrade them. You have already take the first step by being a member. Maybe you have taken other steps by doing the things I mentioned in the previous paragraph. If so, kudos to you, now it’s time to take whatever the next step is.

If not, take heart and inspiration from those who braved more difficult and dangerous times and situations and your NFBPWC sisters who have stepped out of their comfort zones to step up for an organization rooted in making the world a better place for women and girls today and tomorrow. Talk to them. Ask them why they volunteered to do more. What was the hardest thing they had to overcome? What they thought would be hard that turned out to be pretty simple or easy?

Then talk to your local sister-members. Maybe someone else wants to do something but fears not having enough time – perhaps you can share a role, serve as co-chairs of an event, co-chairs of a committee, or some other partnership that allows your club to receive the gift of your talents without either of you sacrificing the time and energy it would take to do it all yourself.

Want a great place to start? Something that’s easy. Something you only have to do once? Something you will have some help with if you get stuck? Write something for our magazine!

The next time you attend an event, take a little pad and jot down the highlights: things you learned, laughter you shared, whatever was interesting about it. Take some photos with your phone. Then write something telling the rest of us about your experience.

This is not an official club report. It’s you sharing your own experience. You do not need permission from anyone. You do not have to let anyone approve or even read it before submission.

There is no minimum word count you have to meet, no style book you need to comply with, none of the things that might stress you out when writing something for others to read. Something casual and friendly that might make someone else want to attend an event too.

And if you’re “not a writer” or even if you “just can’t write” that’s OK too. You have the free services of a professional writer and editor to polish things up if necessary.

If you think you’d like to do this, just drop me a line (magazine@nfbpwc.org) telling me what you want to do, or, just send me the story you wrote.

Happy writing, and reading!

Lisa Dicksteen
Magazine Editor
magazine@nfbpwc.org

Engage with NFBPWC on 

“At the heart of leadership is the leader’s relationship with followers. People will entrust their hopes and

dreams to another person only if they think the other is a reliable vessel.” David Gergen, White House Communications Director for Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton.

As we enter the nominations period, this quote reminds us that leadership in NFBPWC is rooted in trust. The strongest leaders are those who listen, follow through, and create space for others to grow. They inspire confidence not through titles, but through integrity and consistent action.

Think about the members who embody these qualities, the ones who show up prepared, treat others with respect, and strengthen our mission through their reliability and character. These are the individuals who help our organization thrive.

This is the moment to lift up those leaders who have earned your trust. Nominate the person who reflects the spirit of Gergen’s words and will guide NFBPWC forward with purpose and steadiness.

Angie Jackson-Wilson
Chair Nominations
nominations@nfbpwc.org

BPW Listens: Your Voice Matters

BPW International is asking all their members for their views in a way that has never been done before in International’s 95-year history.

When the Executive Committee was discussing their plans for this Triennium, they realized they needed to plan beyond this event into the future. In order to do that, they decided to conduct a survey of members. They wanted to know what the members wanted.

To craft the survey, regional meetings were held and questions from everyone were submitted. Independent members reviewed the questions and then chose the questions to be used. Then a pilot test of the system was held to ensure that it was easy for the members to answer the questions and that their responses were received.

This survey is an opportunity for all members to give their voice, rebuild a connection with and reignite engagement with International. This will also help us build bridges between the Regions.

Each region was asked to provide an ambassador to liaison with the federations and affiliates in their region to encourage and ensure as many members as possible respond to the survey and to be a contact if someone is having problems responding to the survey. Each federation and affiliate will also have a focal point person. I have been asked to serve as the ambassador for the North American and the Caribbean Region. Barbara Bozeman will serve as the focal point person for NFBPWC.

Look for the survey in your inbox in early February. When you receive it, please, please complete it and return it. In order to be sure you get it, please make sure you have the correct email on file with National.

Sandy Thompson
Chair Finance
finance@nfbpwc.org

Bylaws are the Heart of BPW

Within the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs (NFBPWC), bylaws are more than procedural guidelines, they are the heartbeat that keeps our Federation strong, ethical, and united across generations and geographic boundaries.

They articulate our purpose, define our structure, and ensure that every member, from local affiliates to national leaders, operates within a shared framework of fairness and integrity.

NFBPWC’s bylaws protect the democratic values that have guided us for more than a century.

They outline how leaders are elected, how decisions are made, and how members participate in shaping the direction of our Federation.

This clarity empowers leaders to lead confidently and members to engage fully, knowing that every action is grounded in an agreed-upon process.

When questions arise, the bylaws serve as our compass: steady, impartial, and aligned with our mission of advocacy, leadership, and professional development.

Because NFBPWC spans diverse states, professions, and perspectives, consistent adherence to bylaws is essential. They ensure transparency, prevent misunderstandings, and uphold the rights of every member.

When followed, they build trust: trust in leadership, trust in decisions, and trust in the Federation’s commitment to equity and accountability.

When neglected or outdated, that trust weakens, and the organization’s rhythm falters.

As our world evolves, so must our governing documents. Regular review and thoughtful amendments keep NFBPWC’s bylaws responsive to emerging needs, new technologies, and the changing landscape of women’s leadership.

Updating bylaws is not merely administrative work; it is an act of stewardship. It honors the legacy of those who came before us, while preparing the Federation for the leaders who will follow.

At their core, NFBPWC’s bylaws are the foundation of effective governance. They safeguard our mission, strengthen our leadership, and ensure that our work, locally, nationally, and internationally, remains aligned with the values that define us.

When understood, respected, and actively used, the bylaws become more than a document. They become the steady heartbeat that keeps NFBPWC vibrant, resilient, and moving forward with purpose.

Angie Jackson-Wilson
Chair Bylaws & Resolutions
bylaws@nfbpwc.org

---

Determination Helped a Colleague Overcome Bureaucratic Obstacles

For thirty-one years I taught in the English Department of Kingsborough Community College of the City University of New York with the rank of Assistant Professor.

The Department had a requirement, passed retroactively after the college had been in existence for some years, that advancement to Associate and Full Professorships would be denied to anyone in the Department who did not have a PhD. I had failed to complete my PhD thesis, mired in taking care of children, a house, doing all the driving and everything else for the family, including my vision-impaired husband, so I was stuck as an Assistant Professor for the entire time I was teaching.

Our union representative Norah Chase was an extraordinary woman, a close friend who went to bat for me without my requesting her help.

She tried to move mountains, but although she was ultimately unsuccessful as far as official professorial advancement for me was concerned, she brought my talents to the President and the Provost of the college, and I was tapped for the

job of administering a small program designed to bring students who were not quite up to the academic demands of the college to full competence.

I expanded the program from 160 students when I took over to over a thousand students and achieved excellent personal recognition for my work. Throughout, my friend advocated for me, ran interference with the administration, and demanded recognition for my efforts, which I got in terms of being a member of the Faculty Senate, head of the academic program for the entire university, speaker at innumerable conferences.

My friend, our union representative, saw to it that though I could not, because of the rules, get the recognition of academic advancement, I got plenty of personal recognition throughout the university.

I am forever grateful to her for her advocacy.

Engage with NFBPWC on Social Media 

Call to Action

Members, please consider the needs of our organization, its goals, challenges, and opportunities for growth in the coming year.

Remember, potential leaders emerge through their service, their consistency, their willingness to listen, and their commitment to advancing women’s equality. I invite you to step forward and acknowledge that although it can be daunting, we can all offer our services and leadership in some way. That affirms the reality that leadership is not about perfection, it’s about purpose.

Through nominations and elections, we must choose leaders who embody our mission and who will guide us with clarity, accountability, and heart. Leadership is a shared responsibility, let us see it not only for what it is, but for what it can become.

As we enter the new year, let us nominate with purpose.

And let us continue building a community where every woman, emerging or experienced, knows that her voice, her vision, and her purpose matter.

ANGIE JACKSON-WILSON
Nominations Chair

Please be sure to read the article about leadership, especially as it is practiced within BPW, on page 23. Then take the quiz on the next page and see where you are on the learning ladder. THEN, please consider moving up to the next rung. We need you, we welcome you, and we will support you on your journey.

AbsentTea Success and One Woman’s Leadership

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

We had a small group at our AbsentTea and it was most enjoyable, but it is thanks to all of your generosity that we raised $1,640. This is a great start for our first attempt at fundraising this way.

This month’s theme is Women’s Leadership and Vision. Did you know that the United States has had 46 Treasurers?

Eighteen of them have been women.

Of these 18 women – the one who served longest – was Ivy Baker Priest. She served for eight years from 1953 to 1961 under President Eisenhower.

She was then elected Treasurer of California from 1967 to 1975 under Governor Ronald Reagan.

She became the first woman to nominate a candidate for President from a major political party when she offered Ronald Reagan’s name at the 1980 Republican Convention.

She was married twice and had four children.

Fun fact, her daughter Pat Priest played Marilyn on the 1964-65 TV show The Munsters.

Sandy Thompson
Finance Chair