Maintaining Mental Wellness When You’re a Woman on the Move

Women who balance careers, family life, and geographic moves often operate in a near-constant state of transition.

Each role is demanding enough; combined, they stretch emotional bandwidth, disrupt routines, and challenge a sense of identity and stability. Mental wellness in this context isn’t about eliminating stress, but about building systems, habits, and support structures that allow you to function, adapt, and even grow through change.

One of the most important anchors during periods of movement is a sense of continuity. When everything external is shifting—new home, new workplace, new schools—internal consistency becomes essential.

Simple daily rituals can provide that. This might be a morning routine that travels with you regardless of location, a short walk at the same time each day, or even a consistent way you start your workday. These small acts signal to your mind that not everything is in flux, reducing anxiety and decision fatigue while reinforcing a sense of control.

Equally important is redefining what “balance” realistically looks like. For women managing multiple responsibilities, balance is rarely a static or equal distribution of time and energy. It’s dynamic and often seasonal. Some weeks, work will demand more; at other times, family needs will take priority. Add relocation into the mix, and flexibility becomes even more critical.

Rather than striving for perfection in all areas, it’s more sustainable to adopt a “good enough for now” approach. This shift reduces pressure and allows for a more compassionate, realistic assessment of what success looks like in any given moment.

Transitions also tend to disrupt social networks, which are a cornerstone of mental wellness.

Moving often means leaving behind established support systems—friends, neighbors, colleagues—and starting from scratch. This can lead to feelings of isolation, even when surrounded by family.

Being intentional about rebuilding connection is critical, and this is where structured networks can play a powerful role. Organizations like the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs offer an immediate sense of community rooted in shared experience. Instead of arriving in a new location with no professional or social foothold, you step into a network of women who understand the complexities of balancing work, family, and mobility.

• You challenge yourself.
• You become yourself again.

The psychological benefit of this kind of connection should not be underestimated.

Being surrounded by like-minded women helps normalize the challenges you’re facing. The pressures of career progression, caregiving, and relocation can feel isolating, particularly if your immediate environment doesn’t reflect those realities. Within a supportive network, your experiences are more likely to be validated, which reduces self-doubt and reinforces resilience.

Even informal conversations can provide reassurance that you are not navigating these challenges alone.

Mentorship and shared knowledge are equally valuable.

Networks like the NFBPWC include women at different stages of their careers and lives, creating opportunities to learn from those who have already navigated similar transitions. Whether it’s advice on re-establishing a career after a move, managing dual-career households, or finding opportunities in a new city, access to lived experience can significantly reduce uncertainty. It transforms trial-and-error into informed decision-making, conserving both time and emotional energy.

Another often overlooked aspect of mental wellness in this context is decision fatigue.

Relocation and life management involve a constant stream of choices, from logistical details to long-term planning. Over time, this can lead to exhaustion, irritability, and reduced clarity.

One effective strategy is to simplify wherever possible. Standardizing meals during busy periods, limiting non-essential commitments, or delegating tasks within the household can free up mental capacity. It’s not about doing less overall—it’s about preserving your energy for decisions that truly matter.

For women with families, there is also the added emotional labor of supporting others through transitions. Children, partners, and even extended family members often look to you as a stabilizing force. While this role can be deeply meaningful, it can also become draining if it leaves no room for your own emotional needs.

Creating intentional space for personal processing is essential. This might take the form of journaling, therapy, or simply carving out uninterrupted time to reflect.

Acknowledging your own stress does not diminish your strength; it enhances your ability to show up for others with clarity and patience.

Physical well-being remains closely tied to mental health, though it is often the first thing to be deprioritized during busy or transitional periods. Regular movement, adequate sleep, and balanced nutrition provide a foundation for resilience. The key is to focus on consistency rather than perfection.

A short daily walk, a few minutes of stretching, or protecting your sleep schedule can have a significant positive impact on mood and cognitive function, even when life feels unpredictable.

Periods of transition can also unsettle your sense of identity. Changes in work, community, and environment may prompt the question:

“Who am I in this new context?”

Rather than viewing relocation as a reset, it can be helpful to see it as an expansion. Your identity is not erased by change; it evolves. Reflecting on what remains constant—your values, strengths, and priorities—can provide a steady internal reference point, even as external circumstances shift.

Professional and advocacy-oriented networks can reinforce this sense of continuity. Being part of an organization that exists beyond any single location allows you to carry a piece of your professional identity with you wherever you go. Participating in events, contributing to initiatives, or taking on leadership roles can also provide a sense of purpose that complements both work and family life. These engagements create stability not tied to geography, which can be especially grounding during periods of relocation.

Finally, mental wellness in this context requires intentional boundary-setting. When responsibilities are high across multiple domains, personal time can easily disappear.

Protecting even small pockets of time for yourself—without guilt—is essential.

Whether it’s reading, exercising, or simply sitting in quiet, these moments allow your mind to reset and help prevent burnout.

Support networks can also play a role here, reminding you through both example and encouragement that self-care is not indulgent, but necessary.

There is no perfect formula for balancing work, family, and frequent moves.

What works in one phase of life may not work in another. But by focusing on continuity, flexibility, connection, and community—including the strength found in networks such as our National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs—it becomes possible to navigate these demands in a way that supports, rather than depletes, your mental well-being.

Nermin K. Ahmad
Chair Women on the Move
womenonthemove@nfbpwc.org

Women on the Move Committee Members:
Diya Adhikari, Nermin Ahmad, Elle Amani, Barbara J. Bozeman, Sujata Tiwari

The New Safety Network: Why Community-Based Apps Like “The Sorority” Matter

For many women—whether professionals commuting late, students on campus, or mothers thinking about their daughters’ independence—safety is no longer something provided by institutions alone. It is increasingly understood as something shared, immediate, and responsive. This shift is driving interest in community-based tools like The Sorority. I was introduced to this application (downloadable at your app store), during CSW70, and have been blown away by its versatility – whether you are a group of friends going on a trip, students at a university, people in a city – it makes you safer.

The concept is simple: if you feel unsafe, you can alert others nearby who are part of the same network. Instead of relying only on formal responders, the app allows users to crowdsource protection in real time. In a world where most people carry smartphones, this is a natural evolution in how safety works.

The value lies in immediacy.

Traditional systems—campus security, police, emergency services—are essential, but they are not always instant. There is often a gap between feeling unsafe and receiving help. A networked app helps close that gap by connecting you to people already nearby. In many situations, the presence of another person—even briefly—can reduce risk and increase confidence.

Just as important is the sense of agency these tools provide. Rather than being passive, users can activate support directly. For professional women used to assessing risk, this is both practical and empowering. It is especially relevant for young adults gaining independence, where confidence and awareness are key. What I like, once you create an account, and prove who you are (the photo and license copy are deleted at once) you can chose to use your own name (or not), and you can decide if you only want to be visible to women, or also to men, or also to non-cis women and men. You can select a number of parameters, according to your preferences and comfort level. Men registering on the app need to go through additional verification processes, so that they cannot try to use the app to annoy women.

This said, the effectiveness of an app like The Sorority depends on how well it is implemented.

First, network density matters. These systems work best when there are enough active users nearby to respond. On college campuses or in urban areas, this creates real potential. Without participation, however, the model weakens quickly.

Second, trust is essential. Users need confidence that those receiving alerts are legitimate and well-intentioned. Clear onboarding, verification, and community standards are critical to maintaining that trust.

Third, clarity in how the app is used makes a difference. Not every alert should signal the same level of urgency. Systems that distinguish between concern, discomfort, and emergency help prevent overuse and ensure meaningful responses.

Integration also matters. Community-based apps are not a replacement for formal safety systems—they are a complement. The strongest approach layers immediate peer support with professional response when needed.

Finally, there is the human factor. Technology connects people, but it is the willingness to respond that makes the system work. Users must see themselves not only as potential recipients of help, but as contributors to others’ safety.

For business and professional women, this represents a meaningful shift. Safety is no longer only about institutions or individual precautions—it is about connected communities. Apps like The Sorority reflect that change, offering a practical way to extend awareness and support into everyday life.

At its best, this model reinforces a simple idea: safety is strongest when it is shared!

Nermin K. Ahmad
Chair Women on the Move
womenonthemove@nfbpwc.org

Violence against women is not confined to one country, culture, or community, or even to one gender.

From the United States to India, South Africa, Nigeria, and Pacific Island nations, women face physical, sexual, and system-ic aggression. Understanding these global experiences not only expands our aware-ness but also provides insight into strate-gies for action and advocacy that can work anywhere and can be implemented in a legal framework.

In the context of UN CSW70, I have ex-plored cross-cultural examples, the role of media in highlighting systemic failures, and lessons for women seeking empower-ment and justice.

1. When Legal Protection Falls Short

Across the world, legal systems often fail to protect people adequately, even when laws exist. In India, for instance, survivors of sexual assault can wait years to see justice. A high-profile case involved a mother and her daughter who endured a decade-long legal battle after a brutal attack. While laws were on their side, the implementation gap—slow courts, bu-reaucratic hurdles, and societal pressure—made legal protection almost symbolic.

Similarly, post-apartheid South Africa has laws against domestic violence and sexual assault, but systemic inequalities, social stigma, and community distrust mean that survivors often cannot rely on timely or effective justice.

Even in today’s New Zealand, Indigenous and Pacific Island women face compound-ed challenges: colonial legacies, cultural marginalization, and under-resourced le-gal support structure, all of which leave survivors without an understanding of available recourse.

Laws alone are not enough. Women and many men everywhere need support networks, advocacy groups, and com-munity allies to make legal rights mean-ingful.

2. Cultural Barriers and Social Norms

Violence is deeply entwined with cultural and social norms. In many communities, silence is expected; speaking out is stigmatized, as a result, women and men are actively discouraged from defending themselves, reporting crimes, or seeking help.

• In South Asia, women may fear honor-based retaliation or family ostracism.
• In certain African contexts, post-colonial power structures perpetuate gen-dered violence and limit access to justice.

Among Pacific Island commu-nities, tradi-tional hierar-chies and in-tergenerational trauma complicate the response to do-mestic violence.

Global awareness can help US audiences understand that victim-blaming and stigma are universal, and that solidari-ty, rather than judgment, is critical. We are watching a significant, but in many ways disconcerting change taking place as the Epstein files unfold. Will there be a backlash, or can this be parlayed into a permanent change?

3. The Power of Storytelling and Film

Cinema and media have become powerful tools for exposing systemic failures and in-spiring action. Beyond documentaries like The Hunting Ground (see Secretary arti-cle pX), international films depict the struggles and re-silience of women:

• India: Damini (1993) shows a woman fighting the legal system after witness-ing a rape, while Uyare (2019) explores a survivor reclaiming life after an acid attack, and Thappad (2020) critiques domestic violence and cultural indifference.
• Nigeria/Nollywood: Dry (2014) depicts child marriage and sexual assault, and Code of Silence (2015) highlights reporting challenges and societal backlash.
• Southeast Asia: 27 Steps of May (Indonesia, 2018) portrays trauma after political violence, while Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts (2017) explores revenge and empowerment in a patriarchal setting.

These films illuminate systemic fail-ures, inspire advocacy, and normalize speaking out, offering global audiences relatable frameworks for action.

4. Lessons for U.S. Women

Even though these examples are interna-tional, the lessons are just as relevant at home. How many of us assume all women in the US know their rights, forgetting that many, born here to immigrant families, are subject to more stringent rules than their parents faced growing up.

Legal protection is only as effective as its enforcement

Knowing your rights is vital, but it’s equally important to build community and institutional support.

Cultural norms influence response.

Recognize that silence is often en-forced socially, not just legally. Advo-cacy, storytelling, and allyship can shift norms.

Media and storytelling matter.

Films and documentaries can provide validation, education, and strategic in-sight into action steps.

Support networks save lives.

Whether local NGOs, hotlines, or peer networks, forming a safe-ty net is crucial.

5. Action Without Risk: Global-Inspired Principles

Global examples rein-force the principles we discussed in the U.S. context:

• Safety first: Across cultures, immediate sur-vival and avoiding escala-tion are key.
• Document evidence safely: International NGOs encourage careful documentation as a bridge to justice.
• Seek allies: Survivors in South Africa, India, and the Pacific Islands often rely on advocacy groups or extended family networks to navigate legal systems.
• Empowerment over retaliation: Across contexts, effective action focus-es on regaining agency rather than re-venge.

In all these cases, informed, supported action—not silent endurance—is the path toward empowerment and long-term sys-temic change.

6. Why Global Awareness Matters

US audiences can benefit from a global perspective because it has been imported, and it:

• Highlights systemic similarities: Legal loopholes, victim-blaming, and institutional inertia exist world-wide.
• Inspires creative solutions: From community watch programs to media campaigns and advocacy groups, international strat-egies provide models.
• Builds solidarity: Women realizing they are not alone, even across continents, strengthens resilience and advocacy net-works.

Seeing women in India, Nigeria, or Indonesia act despite risks encourages US women to use their own resources, allies, and legal rights confidently.

7. Takeaway: Action Transcends Borders

Violence against women is universal, but so is resilience. Global examples show that laws are necessary but not sufficient, and action—careful, informed, and supported—empowers women while challenging systemic failures.

Films, documentaries, and advocacy stories provide lessons, not just for awareness but for tangible strategies: speak out, document, connect with support systems, and re-claim agency.

Even in environments with legal protection, but difficult social norms or cultural pressures, taking action responsibly is possible. Silence is safe for systems—but deadly for women and many men.

Across continents and cultures, the message is consistent: empowered action saves lives and challenges injustice.

Further Resources

• International documentaries & advocacy: India’s Daughter, Fighting the Silence
• NGOs with global reach: Amnesty International Women’s Rights Program, Global Citizen, UN Women
• Films for awareness and discussion: Damini, Uyare, Thappad, Dry, Code of Silence, 27 Steps of May, Marlina the Murderer in Four Acts

Nermin K. Ahmad
Chair Women on the Move
womenonthemove@nfbpwc.org

From Self Promotion to Knowledge Transmission

Over the past several decades, profession-al women have been encouraged—often aggressively—to “own their power,” culti-vate visibility, and advocate for them-selves in male-dominated environments. This focus on self has been both strategic and necessary. Without it, many women would never have gained access to leader-ship roles, capital, or influence. However, as women advance into senior profession-al stages, the leadership imperative evolves. The question is no longer How do I break through? but What kind of ecosys-tem am I building?

At senior levels, leadership is measured less by personal success and more by suc-cession, sustainability, and the develop-ment of others. In this context, continued self-centering—especially in the form of constant self-referencing, personal brand-ing, and narrative dominance—can quietly undermine the very empowerment profes-sional women claim to champion.

Senior women possess institutional knowledge that cannot be replicated by training programs or leadership seminars. They understand organizational politics, risk management, negotiation dynamics, long-term career trade-offs, and the un-spoken costs of leadership. This knowledge is a strategic asset. Yet it only creates value when it is transferred. Knowledge hoarded, or filtered primarily through self-promotion, loses its leverage.

In professional women’s spaces, a particu-lar leadership failure has become increas-ingly visible: senior women who occupy panels, boards, and executive roles but use these platforms primarily to reinforce their own authority. Conversations be-come autobiographical performances ra-ther than developmental exchanges. Younger professionals are told what the leader endured, achieved, or overcame—but are rarely invited into dialogue, exper-imentation, or authorship of new approaches.

This style of leadership often presents it-self as feminist, yet functions more as gatekeeping. When experience is weapon-ized rather than shared, it creates de-pendency instead of capability. Younger women learn how to defer, not how to lead. In business terms, this is not em-powerment—it is poor talent development.

Effective leadership requires a shift from visibility to multiplication. The strongest executives are not those who dominate conversations, but those who design sys-tems in which others can perform, adapt, and eventually replace them. Leadership that depends on constant self-assertion is fragile. Leadership that builds others is re-silient.

The business environment facing younger women today differs dramatically from that of previous generations. Digital accel-eration, portfolio careers, economic volatility, and blurred boundaries be-tween personal and professional life demand new strategies. Senior women who insist that their path is the definitive model risk becoming irrele-vant. Experience only retains value when it is contextualized, not canonized.

A critical warning is necessary here: when senior women frame dissent as disrespect, or curiosity as ingratitude, innovation stalls. Organizations cannot evolve under leadership that equates authority with infallibility. Professional women who silence young-er perspectives—intentionally or not—reproduce the very hierarchical failures they once challenged.

True feminist lead-ership in business is not performative. It is operational. It shows up in mentorship structures, sponsorship decisions, succession planning, and the willingness to relinquish control. It re-quires senior women to ask not, “How am I being recognized?” but, “Who is being developed because I am here?”

There is also an ethical dimension to influ-ence. Power accumulated over time car-ries responsibility. Senior women who continue to center themselves risk converting feminist language into personal branding—a move that may advance indi-vidual profiles but weaken collective progress. Empowerment can-not be sustained if it flows in only one direc-tion.

The most effective senior women leaders under-stand that legacy is a professional asset. They invest in talent pipelines. They share not only suc-cess stories but failures, trade-offs, and unfinished questions. They listen strategically. They create psychological safety for disagreement. And they step aside when new leadership is ready—not because they are no longer capable, but because the organization is stronger for it.

From a business perspective, the choice is clear. Organizations and networks led by self-focused authority stagnate. Those led by generative leadership adapt, innovate, and endure. The future of professional women’s advancement depends less on individual excellence and more on collec-tive competence.

In the end, leadership is not proven by how often one speaks, how visible one remains, or how central one’s story becomes.

It is proven by conti-nuity. Senior women who move from per-sonal brand to profes-sional legacy do not lose relevance—they institutionalize it. Their influence per-sists not through pres-ence, but through the empowered leaders they leave behind.

Photo by Lisa Dicksteen

Nermin K. Ahmad
Chair Women on the Move

What One Woman’s Investment Did

A $300 computer changed the trajectory of a life—and offers a powerful lesson for women leaders everywhere.

Lual Mayen was born as his mother fled violence in South Sudan, arriving at a refugee camp in northern Uganda, where he would spend the next 22 years.

Life there offered few opportunities, but his mother believed fiercely in her son’s potential. Through sacrifice and determination, she managed to buy him a $300 computer—an extraordinary investment under the circumstances.

At first, Lual didn’t know how to use it. Then he understood something profound: if his mother had invested so much hope in him, he needed to honor that belief.

Teaching himself through what he calls “YouTube University,” he learned to code and began creating games—games designed not just for entertainment, but to give displaced youth something often missing from their lives: belonging, empathy, and connection.

On Dec 16, 2025, I had the honor of introducing Lual at an International Migrants Day event at the United Nations in New York, co-hosted with the Canadian Permanent Mission. He is friends with one of our members in the NYC Club, and I had met him previously, and related strongly to his stories.

As he lives in Washington, DC, it was feasible to bring him in to speak in person. What a great impact he made on all of us!

His work as CEO of Junub Games and founder of the Lual Mayen Foundation has earned international recognition, and his educational games are used in schools in the United States and the United Kingdom.

His foundation empowers refugees through technology, education, and employment pathways and his goal is to teach a path to peace through games. His work has won many awards, including the Mohammed Ali Humanitarian Award and now he is in negotiations with the Discovery channel.

But this story is not just about one man’s success. It is about what happens when a woman invests—in a child, in a future, in possibility.

For business and professional women, this lesson is deeply familiar. We know that access to tools, education, and mentorship changes outcomes. Yet women and girls on the move—migrants, refugees, and displaced women—are still far less likely to receive those investments.

In many parts of the world, families continue to prioritize sons over daughters when resources are scarce, limiting women’s economic independence before it even begins.

Each of us can help change that. By mentoring, sponsoring, and intentionally supporting women and girls—whether they are migrants, refugees, or simply young people in our own communities—we extend opportunity where it is most needed. We strengthen not only individual lives but economies, workplaces, and societies.

As members of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, we are uniquely positioned to do this work. Leadership is not only about titles or achievements; it is about recognizing potential and helping it grow.

Sometimes, that investment is financial. Often, it is time, encouragement, and belief.

One woman’s $300 investment unlocked a lifetime of impact on many more lives than her son’s. Imagine what our collective leadership can do.

Nermin K. Ahmad
Chair Women on the Move
2024-2026

Please contact me directly for more information: Womenonthemove@nfbpwc.org

There is nothing quite like spending time with BPW International Sisters from around the world.

The 7th BPW Mediterranean Symposium: The Balance of Power: Gender, Economy and Leadership brought sisters from across Cyprus (the host nation), various parts of Europe, me from the US, and two from Montreal, Canada. The conference was planned with an evening and a morning of talks, meals set up for conversations, bus rides to see the country, and many opportunities to meet women entrepreneurs and indulge in local offerings. Most important were these many conversations – about opportunities for collaboration, mutual support to make change happen, and exchanges on how best to grow our clubs.

The talk I prepared generated a fair amount of interest – in part because ofmy exhortation for us to do more with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), comparing our efforts to those of the Non-Governmental Organizations recognized at the United Nations, and in part because of my passionate requests for national action on selecting a Madam Secretary General at United Nations and on the question of migrants.

My chart (see Chart A—next page) on what BPW International clubs have accomplished for each SDG shows that we have engagement everywhere, but some of it is quite historic! There is room for improvement – and we need to be serious about logging our efforts!

In comparing our efforts with those of UN Registered NGOS, I developed the following table (see Chart B below) which shows a strong alignment to what others are doing, but underscores opportunities for us to do so much more.

An important element in my talk was the request that each club talk to their governments about the importance of selecting a Madam Secretary General next year. Seven women are in the running, but of all the candidates, only one name will be passed to the General Assembly for a vote. The selection will be accomplished in closed sessions.

I ended my talk by asking our sisters to also speak to their governments on the question of people on the move – migrants in this case – and to help frame the discussion especially around women on the move. The International Migration Review Forum is coming up in May 2026, and regardless of feelings about migrants in general, it is important that we advocate for business and professional women migrants to benefit from equitable treatment. Currently, many educated and experienced women on the move fall through the cracks in countries where they are not classified for their knowledge in the same way as men. This places them at a real disadvantage when competing for positions or adapting to a new country.

CHART B: COMPARING RESULTS OBTAINED BY IFBPW AND UN NGOS

Please contact me directly for more information: Womenonthemove@nfbpwc.org

Nermin K. Ahmad
Chair Women on the Move
2024-2026

Representing BPW-International at the UN is an honor – but when I get to meet extraordinary individuals, it becomes a moment of personal growth. This article showcases women and men who do amazing work, despite odds that would make many people lose trust in God, in good, and in one another. In their own words, they are certainly Women on the Move! Their piece is lightly edited, but I think it can resonate with each one of us.

Please contact me directly for more information:

Womenonthemove@nfbpwc.org

The rest of this content is from the presentation delivered at the event.

organisation rooted in Love, led by visionaries, and powered by inclusion.

In Rwanda, where community and resilience shape the rhythm of everyday life, a quiet revolution has unfolded – one that is redefining how society sees and supports children with intellectual disabilities. At the heart of this transformation is the Izere Mubyeyi Organisation (IMO), a local NGO founded in 2004 by Agnes Mukashyaka, a mother whose personal journey became a catalyst for national change.

Agnes’s story is deeply personal. When her son was diagnosed with an intellectual disability, she faced not only the emotional weight of the diagnosis but also the societal stigma that isolated families and denied children their right to education and dignity. Refusing to accept this reality, Agnes mobilized fellow parents and educators to create a space where children with intellectual disabilities could be seen, heard, and supported. Thus, IMO was born with a mission to promote the rights, potential, and well-being of these children through inclusive education, health, and community engagement.

Over the past two decades, Agnes has led IMO with unwavering commitment. Holding a bachelor’s degree in education and a diploma in special needs education, she has challenged societal perceptions, trained educators, and built bridges between families and institutions. Her leadership was internationally recognized when she was selected for the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) in 2022.

A year later, she received the IVLP Impact Award for her project “Unlocking Opportunities for Children and Youth with Intellectual Disabilities,” which reached hundreds across Kigali City. But Agnes is not alone. IMO is guided by a board of visionary and expert leaders. Felicien Turatsinze, Chair of the Board of Trustees, is a distinguished development expert with over a decade of experience in inclusive programming and international cooperation.

As Country Director for Chance for Childhood/Rwanda and Head of Operations for East Africa, Felicien brings strategic insight and policy acumen to IMO’s work. His background in physiotherapy and Masters  in  Public Health, combined with his global network, has helped IMO align its programs with international standards and foster cross- border collaboration.

Dr. Donatilla Kanimba, a trailblazer in disability rights, lends her wisdom as a trustee. Founder of the Rwanda Union of the Blind, Dr. Kanimba has spent decades advocating for the full inclusion of persons with disabilities. Her work helped shape Rwanda’s national disability policy and secure the country’s adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). She has received multiple honors for her contributions, including the Leitner Center Award and the Woman of Courage Award. In retirement, she continues to champion inclusive education through IMO, mentoring the next generation of advocates.

Jean Damascene Ntihinyuzwa, a seasoned educator and communications professional, serves as an advisor to the board, overseeing fundraising efforts. With a Master of Science in Internet Systems and a strong background in ICT education, Jean has contributed to media, academia, and public engagement. His technical expertise and storytelling abilities have helped IMO amplify its impact and connect with supporters across continents. 

Since 2021, through targeted interventions, IMO has impacted over 15,000  community  members,  including 260 children with intellectual disabilities, through inclusive education, vocational training, and physical rehabilitation. These programs have helped children gain independence in daily living and empowered families to advocate for their rights. Yet the need remains immense. The demand for special and inclusive education continues to grow, especially among primary school-aged children, mainly those with intellectual disabilities. Families are eager for support, and communities are ready to embrace change – but resources are limited. To meet this demand, IMO must expand its infrastructure, strengthen vocational skilling, scale economic resilience programs for families, and deepen its evidence-based advocacy and research.

This is why IMO joined Spotlight Africa, a platform created by the Segal Family Foundation to connect African changemakers with global partners. The board sent four delegates to New York to share IMO’s story, build relationships, and seek support. It was a moment of courage and hope – stepping into unfamiliar spaces to speak on behalf of children whose voices are often unheard.We are deeply grateful to everyone who paused to listen to our story. Now, we invite you to join us.

For academicians, IMO offers a living laboratory for inclusive education and community-based development. Your research, mentorship, and collaboration can help us refine our models and scale our impact.

Chair Women on the Move
Nermin K. Ahmad
2024-2026

Photos for this article are from https://izeremubyeyi.org.

Katrina 20 Years Later

Twenty years ago, Hurricane Katrina reshaped Louisiana, physically, emotionally, and politically. Aswe reflect on its impact today, we also honor the resilience of the Louisiana Federation of Business and Professional Women and the women who rose to rebuild, lead, and advocate for lasting change.

In June 2005, I was installed as State President of BPW/Louisiana with a clear vision and a call to action anchored by our theme: BPW/LA Gems are “RARE.” A path to refocusing on BPW/USA’s mission to help women achieve work-life balance and workplace equity:

• Activate our membership to engage with policymakers and drive systemic change
• Renew our dedication to supporting this mission through every challenge
• Execute a strategic plan aligned with our values and vision

My term as President began with a tremendous trip to Philadelphia. Energized and focused, we were able to respond swiftly and effectively to the concerns of our Local Organizations.

In August, I began my tour of all our Local Organizations. I was warmly welcomed by the Northwest Louisiana and Natchitoches Locals. In Natchitoches, President Theresa Gibson and I visited with then-Mayor Wayne McCullen, (a BPW member) who honored me with the keys to the city.

Then came Baton Rouge for the Women’s Equality Day Summit at the LSU Women’s Center in celebration of the 85th Anniversary of the Passage of the 19th Amendment. Immediate Past State President and ERA Chair Camille Moran and her dedicated committee delivered an outstanding program that honored our shared legacy and ongoing advocacy.

This was just days before the storm hit.

The chaos and heartbreak that swept across Louisiana were unlike anything we had ever faced. Yet our resilience shone through.

As soon as conditions allowed, members of the Board of Directors from North and Central Louisiana convened at my home to discuss how we could best help our sisters in the hardest hit areas.

We checked on members all over the state and learned that some had evacuated north. Past President Cynthia Edwards (New Orleans) and her husband Gilbert, stayed briefly at a hotel in West Monroe, while Martha Gremillion (New Orleans) found refuge in Bastrop with her niece.

The outpouring of support from BPW clubs across the country was deeply moving. BPW Arizona adopted a New Orleans member and provided personal assistance throughout her recovery.

BPW Virginia contributed the largest monetary donation, an extraordinary gesture of solidarity.

While we were not able to execute the strategic plan we’d envisioned, we stood strong for the Southeast when they needed us most. That, to me, is the true measure of leadership: being present, being compassionate, and rising to meet the moment.

This is the heart of NFBPWC.

Despite the ravages of Katrina and later Rita, we were still able to host the Mid-Year Board Meeting in Lafayette on January 13,

2006, where members from the areas hardest hit by Katrina and Rita shared their stories of recovery and the locations of some of our members who had moved out of state to be with relatives until they could return home. Of course, many had no homes to return to. In addition, Joe Berry, a Louisiana Professional Lobbyist spoke at the Legislative luncheon.

In March, Roslyn Ridgeway (GA) visited Louisiana in her capacity as BPW/USA National President. She was hosted by clubs in St. Bernard Parish, Slidell, and West St. Tammany, and met with members in Mandeville.

Our Clubs in Metairie-Kenner, New Orleans, and Lafitte came together to host a reception at a local recreation center, creating a rare space for healing and reconnection amid the devastation.

In April, we gathered to observe Equal Pay Day – a joint venture with the Louisiana ERA Coalition – at which State Representative Sydnie Mae M. Durand of Louisiana District 46 gave the keynote address before Representative Willie Hunter, author of HB144 Louisiana Equal Pay for Women Act, led an advocacy training.

On May 20th, Immediate Past State President, Camille Moran officially presented the Northwest Louisiana Local Organization with their charter. This represents a flowering of the seeds NFBPWC’s members in Louisianna and throughout the country planted together during and after the hurricanes, and is further proof that, as an organization, we are resilient, and we remain Rooted in Purpose – Rising in Power.

By Angie Jackson-Wilson, Louisianna State President 2005-2006

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Women on the Move

Eva Richter Finds Her Way Home

A Review of SEEKING HOME: A World War II Refugee Childhood in War-torn China. We first meet Eva on Empire Day, May 24, 1937. She is four years old and knows she is not meant to be where she is. Her father has just handed her over the fence to sit with her aunt in the bleachers to see the celebration on a huge movie screen. She’s trying to be inconspicuous. She is in Tientsin, China, in the British Compound, celebrating the coronations of King George IV and Queen Elizabeth.

She does not belong there because she is not a British subject. She and her parents fled Germany when she was two and they are stateless – a difficult and potentially dangerous status any time, but more so in this particular time and place.

Eva is a precocious child. She is naturally intelligent and inquisitive – often causing consternation at school by questioning the received wisdom as set forth by her teachers. The fact that she was usually right endeared her to no one but her loving parents. Having spent her life as a refugee seems to have heightened her need to understand things, to belong, and to be aware of her surroundings in a way that most children, even adolescents and teens, are not.

That’s a good thing for her – and a great thing for us. As clear as it is that adult Eva did some research on specific dates and names and political intrigues, it is equally clear that she has an astonishing recall of the events of her childhood – a childhood that she said seemed utterly unremarkable as she was living it, as most childhoods do, yet continues to elicit incredulity whenever she speaks of it. She wrote this book in response to those responses, and because her children and grandchildren begged her to. I’m not giving anything away to tell you that we follow Eva and her brilliant and compassionate parents through the complex life of foreigners living in China under both Chinese and Japanese rule, then making it to the end of the war and not finding what they’d anticipated when the smoke cleared.

They moved to America, and, eventually, Eva joined BPW.

As we travel through time with the Lewison family, we receive a brief history of local and world events along the  way.  After background on Eva’s   maternal and paternal families, we get a crash course the history of Tientsin and what it was like to live there during the days when Britian, Italy, and several other nations had their own concessions – large areas that operated as their own independent fiefdoms, accountable to the laws of their own home nations, and occupied only by citizens.

With Eva as a guide, we go to markets, attend numerous schools of varying pedagogies and qualities, experience the attack on Pearl Harbor from a different perspective, make it through the Japanese occupation, witness the condescension and racism inherent in the lives and actions of foreign nationals toward their Chinese hosts, make and lose friends, move to America and discover that the streets are not all paved with gold and there are poor and hungry disenfranchised people there too.

Throughout, Eva is a charming companion who faces difficulties with a pragmatic approach and a stiff upper lip – for most of her youth she is, in her heart, a British subject. The reader is occasionally much more worried about her than she is. She is such a straight- forward child, so sure that right will prevail and that she can manage things just fine, thank you.

When she leaves us, she is an American citizen, making a life for herself and her own family, and we are sure she, and they, are indeed going to be just fine, thank you.

Both articles by Lisa Dicksteen

Bloomsbury Academic, 2025, 223 pages.

To purchase go to Bloomsbury Academic,Amazon, or Barnes & Nobel

A

Virtual Lunch with Eva Richter: Woman on the Move and Author of “Seeking Home”

September 27, 2025: As part of Women on the Move’s ongoing effort to spotlight NFBPW’s fascinating and far-flung

Forty-two people were riveted as Eva talked about why she wrote the book (her children and grandchildren basically insisted), what it was like (she enjoyed reminiscing and is grateful for the internet and its endless source of fact-checking and images and to her Prussian father and his meticulous record keeping), and how surprised she has been by the interest of so many people outside her family and friends.

Among the attendees were her family, members and non-members of NFBPWC, and at least two old friends. Zhidong Hao was Eva’s student in the 1980s when Eva returned to China to teach. She sponsored his admission to the US to pursue a PhD and they have remained friends. He translated the book into Chinese for release in Taiwan early next year and is negotiating with mainland publishers for its release there.

Zohal Wali credits Eva as her mentor when they were in Afghanistan and asked for her advice for young refugees just getting used to a new country and culture. Eva said her advice is the same for everyone – native or new to the US – listen. Listen to everyone you meet to discover the similarities between your cultures as well as to understand the differences.

There were attendees zooming in from Alberta, California, Colorado, Germany, Italy, Montreal, Morocco, New Jersey, New York City, New York State, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Seattle, Singapore, and Tucson, and more, and everyone was shocked when 90 minutes had passed and it was time to stop.

We Need to Move for Our story

Gender is more equally distributed globally than it has ever been across history, with about 105 boys born for every 100 girls). However, life expectancy for those born female is longer, so that as of 2023, there were

3.9 billion born male and 3.8 billion born female worldwide. Cultural and social factors further influence gender ratios in specific regions, and some countries have significantly skewed ratios due to historical events or policies.

Non cis-males still argue and strive for equal rights. Over the centuries, we inch forward toward equality and slide back. Yet we all emerge from a womb, and many of us are raised, at least initially, by women. Do we need to rethink how we raise and educate males? History, herstory and ourstory cannot be so far apart – and yet they seem to be.

Out of curiosity I asked AI to give me context on relative gender power distribution across history.

• Prehistoric Societies: More egalitarian gender roles due to shared survival tasks.

• Agricultural Revolution: Agriculture from around 10,000 BCE led to men typically taking on labor-intensive tasks.

• Classical Civilizations: In ancient Greece and Rome gender roles became more stratified, limiting women's rights and roles in public life.

• Middle Ages: Women's roles varied from considerable influence in households and trades to becoming restricted.

• Industrial Revolution: The 18th and 19th centuries saw women entering the workforce in factories, leading to gradual shifts in gender roles.

• 20th Century Movements: The suffrage movement and feminist waves significantly advanced women's rights and participation in various sectors.

• Global Variations: Gender distribution and roles vary across cultures and regions, and over time, influenced by local customs and laws.

Social structures shape societies. Take religions. Many seem have seemed to flow from greater equality through to increased subservience – often to meet social norms and due to evolving interpretations of religious texts. For example, Hindu women enjoyed greater freedom and equality in the early Vedic period, but their social status changed over time. While the core philosophy of Buddhism is considered gender- neutral, historical, and social factors led to the development of male-dominated institutions and practices, resulting in women being increasingly subservient. Agnostic gender integration depends on location and leadership, with cultural bias perduring despite active promotion of gender equality. Among Atheists, although women are often more represented in secular movements compared to religious ones, and many atheist organizations actively promote gender equality and inclusivity, disparities exist in leadership roles and visibility.

The Old Testament religions present a mixed picture of women's equality. While foundational texts like Genesis 1:26-27 affirm women’s creation in God's image and shared dominion, other passages and interpretations reflect patriarchal structures and societal norms. The interpretation and application of these passages evolve over time and are an ongoing discussion and debate. For example, the Catholic Church used the Second Council of Nicaea in 787 AD to place hitherto equal Abbesses under Abbots in the monastery hierarchy. Judaism is a patriarchal structure, but women had increasingly less active social roles from about the Middle Ages. Islam originally promoted equality between men and women in various aspects of life, including spiritual capacity, education, and legal rights, prohibiting female infanticide, recognizing women's right to own property, inherit wealth, and initiate divorce – although this has changed.

The Cathars, a medieval Christian cult with gender equality and no objection to contraception, homosexuality, euthanasia, or suicide, believed a person could reincarnate as either a man or a woman. Women thus had more equal opportunities. They were eradicated by the end of the 14^th Century.

Research on Matriarchal Societies led to the:

• Mosuo people (China): Mosuo women frequently head households, inherit through the female line, and make business decisions. Their family structure does not involve marriage as commonly understood.

• Minangkabau people (Indonesia): As the world's largest matrilineal society, the Minangkabau emphasize feminine deities and cultural practices.

• Hopi tribes (United States): The matrilineal Hopi tribes had women passing down land and pottery and were responsible for exporting crafts for profit. While gender ideology favored female superiority, their social reality was one of sexual equality.

• Iroquois Confederacy (United States and Canada): The Haudenosaunee included women in political decisions, including for warfare. Mothers held significant moral and political roles.

So, women had progressively eroded position. We say that we need to press for Education and Economic Empowerment, including equal pay, and equal access to land, credit and other resources and we need to support women-owned businesses with access to the tools they need. We seek Social and Political Representation, and an end to Gender Stereotyping – with shared responsibilities and inclusive language.

Despite knowing all of this, we hope for a magic pen that will declare all humans equal. Do we personally undertake enough to make equality a standard? All of us need to speak up, act as role models, and stand by our choices in life. No one is going to magically make us equal. We need to train our men, and our women, to feel equal, act equal, and promote each other to be equal. Artificial Intelligence could help – but were enough women engaged in its creation and education? I fear that violence and discrimination are the signs of a society facing resource scarcity and erosion of a way of life. We must promote a culture of respect and safety, with support services for victims and survivors. The right laws help, but inaction at the individual level does not.

On August 23, 2025, Women on the Move was proud to host a panel discussion on what moves women to take action and to represent their communities on the public stage, in politics, or to ensure that women’s voices are heard.

We had deeply interesting 90-miniute event, with rich discussion and input from the four women invited to speak, and an audience which ranged from California across the US to Europe. A clear message came through: Women fought for the right to vote – we need to stand up and be heard, and we must vote and encourages others to do so. Feedback since the event has been truly inspiring.

Our next event will feature long-time NYC member, Eva Richter, on her just published autobiography Seeking Home. This is likely to be on Sept 27 at noon, also for 90-minutes. Keep your eye on the NFBPWC Calendar.

Our speakers were:

Josianne Cutajar (Malta) is a political advisor with extensive legal, political, and public affairs experience. She graduated with a Master’s in European and Comparative Law from the University of Malta. At age 22 Cutajar was elected to her hometown’s Local Council and later became the first Gozitan and youngest Maltese Member of the European Parliament ever elected. Prior to that, she worked at the Prime Minister’s Office and held various positions within Malta’s Labour Party.

She currently serves on the Business and Professional Women’s United Nations Standing Committee, focusing on the sustainability agenda as well as online safety.

Natasha Yeeloy Labad (Dominica) is a trailblazing Caribbean business leader and the 2024 Female CEO of the Year, leading Outsource Development in championing excellence in Business Process Outsourcing and Corporate Training. Beyond steering a dynamic enterprise, she has held several high- profile roles, including serving as Senior Technical Officer in the Office of the Prime Minister of Dominica, where she advised the Prime Minister on strategic initiatives.

Recognized as a 2025 UNESCO Peace Leader for her contributions to youth peacebuilding and socio- economic development projects, Natasha also serves as an Executive Member of the Dominica Chapter of Business and Professional Women and sits on the UN Steering Committee for the International Federation of Business and Professional Women—bringing a strong Caribbean voice to the global stage.

A published author with a Master’s in Project Management and certifications in mediation and training, she is deeply committed to advancing women’s economic empowerment and fostering sustainable development throughout the region.

Lelena Tewodros Yilma, (Ethiopia) is a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment and inclusive leadership. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Information Systems and a master’s degree in Human Resource Management, both from Addis Ababa University. Since 2021, she has been working with the National Election Board of Ethiopia—first through IFES-USAID and now as a permanent government staff member—where she serves as a Training Support Coordinator and Expert. In this role, she has contributed to strengthening Ethiopia’s electoral processes through the Training of Trainers model, advancing both institutional capacity and democratic participation.

Beyond her public service, Lelena is also engaged in her family’s gemstone business, where she combines entrepreneurial experience with her commitment to women’s economic empowerment. In April 2024, she joined the Business and Professional Women (BPW) network, a step that has further connected her with a community of trailblazing women who inspire her personal and professional growth. Today, she proudly represents Young BPW Ethiopia, carrying forward her vision of empowering women to take active roles in governance, business, and society at large.

Carolina Auz (Quebec, Canada) is an interior designer and stylist with extensive experience in the decoration field and over nearly twenty years in the specialized magazine industry in Quebec. She supports Entrepreneurship and Promotes Quebec's Creative Talent through her independent business dedicated to showcasing local creators. She founded a successful decoration and gift shop, and joined a businesswomen's association in Quebec, which facilitated key professional connections and helped her participate in the early rise of the Internet in business. Our online store was launched before the major retailers, bringing international recognition through our distinctive expertise.

She became involved in the Board of Directors of the St-Lambert business association (where our shop was located), taking on projects for magazines. Family reasons led her to focus on family, and she focused on decoration and styling for TVA Publications, New Commitments and Political Pathway. In February 2025, she was approached by the local city councilor and offered the opportunity to join her political party, which she officially accepted in April. In early August, after a complex meeting with two members of the party, including the leader, she decided not to pursue involvement with the group.

Nermin K. Ahmad

NFBPWC Women on the

Move Committee Chair

Women on the Move: 

During the UN General Assembly High-level week 2025, there will be a “High-level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar” on September 30^th from 10am to 1pm and 3pm – 6pm. This is available for viewing via UN WebTV https://webtv.un.org/en/schedule

Migrants in Vulnerable Situations

Migration is front and center in political, social and economic discussions across the globe as more and more people are on the move, and more and more countries are putting up barriers to easy mobility. Deportation, voluntary and forced, detentions, raids by masked agents of federally constituted agencies under the Department of Homeland Security are all familiar snippets on the daily newscasts, and sometimes these reach into one’s home, as a domestic cleaning person, a landscape worker or gardener, a hospital orderly or nurse’s aide, a local farm hand or handyperson, a restaurant owner or worker is suddenly threatened or arrested and drops out of the work force or even out of the personal service to which we have become accustomed. If we wish to intervene—and we might not, for various good reasons--, is there anything we can realistically do?

Some cities are sanctuary cities which have laws maintaining the personal freedom of all those within their spaces under international human rights protocols. People are free to live without being arrested or removed from schools, churches, hospitals and other public spaces. But it is outside the schools where the parents wait on public sidewalks for their children’s release after school is out, for example, that they are vulnerable to arrest and separation from their children. Under the law, arrest warrants must be shown and a person being arrested has a right to know why he/she is under arrest. Unfortunately, recent arrests have frequently not followed these protocols. It has happened that a person going to a legitimate green card status hearing is arrested on coming out of the hearing at which there

might even have been a positive judgment, conferring regular status on the petitioner. Appeals to city and state officials and legislators may be helpful.

Many migrants have been waiting for years for a hearing, incurring huge lawyers’ expenses in the process. But there are many NGOs made up of lawyers willing to work pro bono or for very little money for migrants wishing to legalize their status. The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), for example, is committed to ensuring that communities are informed, prepared, and empowered in the face of federal immigration enforcement. That’s why they have created comprehensive Know Your Rights resources designed for everyone, regardless of immigration status, to learn from and share.

Here are some resources tailored to New York State and available in multiple languages, but similar resources are available across the country. These include:

Wallet cards with phrases stating your rights Know Your Rights presentations Guides on interacting with law and immigration enforcement

And more!

Click here to access the know your rights resources.

If we wish to, we can help by keeping up to date on developments and upholding our commitment to civil and human rights law. Under those laws a person is not a criminal until he or she has been properly charged and has been given a proper legal hearing.

Submitted by, Eva Richter, NFBPWC New York City ungBPWUSA.

BPW Member Showcase

All of us have amazing stories about how we have moved to become who we are today. BPW is founded on the principle of giving a platform and a sisterhood to Business and Professional Women, and we have done so since 1919 in the United States.
I am proud to showcase the tale of two BPW members – one in Nepal, one in the US: Two Women, One Dream: A Mother and Daughter’s Journey to Their PhDs. I am sure you will agree that they embody the empowerment of women – as they link business and education and professionalism. I am proud to be a member of an organization that has members like these!

Please share your stories with me if you like – secretary@nfbpwc.org for me to showcase your journey as well! Enjoy reading about Diya Adhikari and her mother Gita, from Diya’s perspective!

Education has always been at the heart of our family story. My mother and I, though from different generations and living thousands of miles apart, are now walking parallel paths - both working toward one shared goal: earning our PhDs.

My mother completed her master’s degree in Nepal some 15 years ago. She was raising two young children with my father, both were building a life in Kathmandu, away from the comfort and help of the family back in the village. Balancing work, parenting, and household responsibilities, she made the difficult decision to pause her academic journey to raise me and my brother.

She is one of the most insightful and capable people I know. She taught me math and English, always encouraging me to stay curious and committed. I could see in her a deep love for learning and an even deeper strength to keep going no matter what the circumstances.

Inspired by her resilience and guided by my own aspirations, I came to the United States to pursue my undergraduate degree in Computer Science and Business Analytics. My vision is to create meaningful, human-centered impact through the intersection of data, design, and purpose. Leaving home wasn’t easy, but it was a step toward building a life where I can both support my family and contribute to something larger than myself.

Back in Nepal, my mother found her own moment of return. After a 15-year academic gap, she made the decision to pursue an MPhil. It was a bold step, and like many returning students, she faced self-doubt and pressure. But she approached it with commitment and grace and graduated with a 4.0 GPA. Her achievement has been more than a personal milestone. It has been a source of pride for our entire family and a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to invest in yourself. Today, as she prepares to begin her PhD, in Nepal, I plan to pursue my doctoral studies here in the U.S. once I complete my undergraduate degree.

Our individual journeys have led us to find leadership and connections beyond the classroom. My mother has been actively involved with BPW Nepal, advocating for women in leadership and education. I joined NFBPWC here in New York with her encouragement, and it has allowed me to connect with an incredible network of women professionals whose values and goals align with my own.

Our family’s tea business, Lumbini Tea House, has been the backbone of everything. It supported my mother’s return to education and made it possible for both my brother and me to study in the U.S. It carried us through and gave us the foundation to grow.
This journey is not ours alone. My father’s constant support and belief in our
potential has been instrumental.

My younger brother brings a sense of balance to our lives with his energy and encouragement. And my maternal uncle has played an  irreplaceable role in helping both my mother and me reach this point. His love for his sister and his unwavering support for his niece has been a quiet but powerful force behind everything we’ve achieved. What makes this moment special is not just academic success. It is the journey of returning, rebuilding, and rising together. Our story is about choosing growth, no matter the timing, and about creating space for new beginnings at every stage of life.

Nermin K. Ahmad
NFBPWC Women on the Move Committee
Chair