Our Rising Stars—Allies in Action

This month’s theme, Allies in Action, feels especially fitting as we refocus our commitment to our Young BPW members, our vibrant, ambitious, and fiercely talented RISING STARS.

For a few years now, Time Magazine has had an annual “Time100 Next” list. It recognizes influential figures across the spectrum of endeavors. They are seen as “shaping the future and defining the next generation of leadership.” They are defined by what they do and not the calendar.

And I believe we have those same stars right here in NFBPWC.

Too often, the phrase Young BPW has been treated as a qualifier, something that comes “before.” That is not how I see it. Young BPW is a badge of momentum. It’s where possibility meets purpose and it represents the energy that keeps our Federation in motion. You are not the future of this organization; you are its current pulse.

As we head toward December, we’ll be realigning our constellation, bringing your voices together to chart a path forward. Consider this your early call to connect, contribute, and claim your space in that sky. Many exciting things are coming and I want every single one of you to be part of it.

Call to Action: Your Voice, Your Vision

Tell me what matters most – in your career, your studies, YOUR LIFE.mWhat can we do to make NFBPWC more conducive to your aspirations? Where do you want to shine? You are not the “next generation” of BPW. You are the NOW generation. Together we can make sure that light shines bright in every direction.

For more information on Ray Allensworth and her accomplishments go to https://time.com/collections/time100-next- 2025/7318811/ray-allensworth/

If you have needs or ideas to share, please contact me via president@nfbpwc.org

Young BPW Meets December 4^th

Barbara J. Bozeman

National President

2024-2026

“If you have the right experience and perspective, even at a young age, you’re able to do something really important.”

—Ray Allensworth

Honoring Young BPW Leader, Bryn Norrie

It is with both pride and gratitude that we share an update about our Young BPW Officer, Bryn Norrie.

With great regret, her resignation was accepted on September 19th, 2025.

As many of you know, in August, Bryn began her studies at George Washington University Law School, a remarkable milestone and a testament to her dedication and talent. With the demanding schedule of a first-year law student, Bryn has recognized that she cannot fully continue her

responsibilities as our Young BPW Officer. While we are sad to see her step back from her role (and no – she is not leaving us as a member), we absolutely must and do celebrate the exciting new path she is pursuing.

Bryn was elected to the NFBPWC Executive Committee as Young BPW Officer in July 2024. At the International Congress in November 2024, our region (North America and the Caribbean) elected her to be our Regional Young BPW

Chair. Her leadership has been inspiring, not only to our Young BPW members but also the    2024-2026 Executive Committee, where her insight, energy, and collaborative spirit have been invaluable.

On behalf of NFBPWC, I extend my heartfelt thanks to Bryn for her service, her leadership, and the passion she has brought to every role she has held. We are proud of her accomplishments and grateful for the time she has given to our organization.

As she continues her law studies, we know Bryn will excel, and we will be cheering her on every step of the way. We wish her nothing but the best and look forward to supporting her endeavors as a continuing member of NFBPWC.

What is Young BPW?

If you're between the ages of 18 and 35 and are looking to collaborate on BPW’s local and international initiatives – including career, leadership, and women's rights – then Young BPW is for you!

Young BPW members exchange ideas, information, and support to help each other to achieve their career potential. We offer a tight-knit, engaged community, as well as leadership opportunities, resources, and career-focused programs.

Email us at: youngbpw@nfbpwc.org

By Barbara Bozeman, President, NFBPW, 2024-2026

What is Young BPW?

If you're between the ages of 18-35 and are looking to collaborate on BPW local and international initiatives – including career, leadership, and women's rights -- then Young BPW is for you!

Young BPW members exchange ideas, information, and support to help keep all members achieving their career potential. We offer a tight-knit, engaged community, as well as leadership opportunities, resources, and career-focused programs.

Email us at: youngbpw@nfbpwc.org

Keep in the loop of Young BPW activities and join in on them by following us on:

Instagram: @YoungBPWUSA                                                 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/YoungBPWUSA 

Bryn Norrie
NFBPWC Young BPW CHAIR
2024-2026

What is Young BPW?

If you're between the ages of 18-35 and are looking to collaborate on BPW local and international initiatives – including career, leadership, and women's rights -- then Young BPW is for you!

Young BPW members exchange ideas, information, and support to help keep all members achieving their career potential. We offer a tight-knit, engaged community, as well as leadership opportunities, resources, and career-focused programs.
Email us at: youngbpw@nfbpwc.org

Keep in the loop of Young BPW activities and join in on them by following us on:

Instagram: @YoungBPWUSA                                                 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/YoungBPWUSA

Bryn Norrie NFBPWC
Young BPW CHAIR
2024-2026

Hello BPW!

There are a lot of fun things happening in the YBPW world this month! For my YBPW members - we will be hosting our summer happy hour after the 4th of July - keep an eye on your inbox for this! Also - I am working closely with Regional Coordinator KarinGorgerat on the 2025 YBPW Symposium. If you are interested in assisting with the planning or want to share ideas about what you would like to see - please let me know! For those young at heart BPW members, please use the link below to sign up for my interview program! I really want to hear from you and capture your story for all YBPW to hear!

Sign up for interviews here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf4smW 2l7BwPi3RFwDV5AS2fA8CPjn6ChogCedykwi4e1UD Nw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=118191613570778 325645
I hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather and staying cool if you’re on the east coast! As always, please reach out to me with anything YBPW related!

What is Young BPW?

If you're between the ages of 18-35 and are looking to collaborate on BPW local and international initiatives – including career, leadership, and women's rights -- then Young BPW is for you!
Young BPW members exchange ideas, information, and support to help keep all members achieving their career potential. We offer a tight-knit, engaged community, as well as leadership opportunities, resources, and career-focused programs.
Email us at: youngbpw@nfbpwc.org

Bryn Norrie NFBPWC
Young BPW CHAIR
2024-2026

Keep in the loop of Young BPW activities and join in on them by following us on:

Instagram: @YoungBPWUSA                                                 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/YoungBPWUSA

Hello BPW! Happy June!

In honor of International Day of Women in Diplomacy on June 24th, I would like to discuss the Women, Peace and Security program that the DoD recently canceled.

The idea for the program came into the international diplomatic imagination in 2000, when the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1325 that affirmed the role women play in all aspects of the prevention and resolution of conflicts. In 2017, the US Congress passed the Women, Peace, and Security Act and President Trump signed it into law and published a strategy for implementation of the law. This strategy included ensuring women were included in decision making related to crises and protection of women’s and girl’s human rights. This initiative included several agencies across the US government but has garnered headlines in recent months due to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth canceling the program.

When I was in college, I conducted research on the ideas central to this program. My research reaffirmed what those in the international diplomacy space have known for years. Inclusion of women in peace processes makes the peace deals more stable, inclusive, and long lasting. Not only that, but when women are included in peace processes make it significantly more likely that considerations specific to women are included in peace agreements.

The knowledge that women bring to the table about their communities and what will work best to keep the peace is unparalleled to many other alternatives tried in diplomacy.

The WPS program wasn’t perfect, but it highlighted important gendered gaps in the diplomatic spaces. Gaps that lead to missed opportunities for true diplomatic and peace breakthroughs. This program also recognized that women are not an underrepresented minority that needs more voice in diplomatic spaces, but rather that women are quite literally half of the world and it is crucial that their interests and perspectives be represented at every level possible.

So, this International Women in Diplomacy Day, I would like to ask that you take a moment to remember all of the women crucial to diplomacy that changed their communities for the better that you have never heard of and those for whom it will be harder to get involved in the diplomacy because of the end of this vital program.

What is Young BPW?

If you're between the ages of 18-35 and are looking to collaborate on BPW local and international initiatives – including career, leadership, and women's rights -- then Young BPW is for you!

Young BPW members exchange ideas, information, and support to help keep all members achieving their career potential. We offer a tight-knit, engaged community, as well as leadership opportunities, resources, and career-focused programs.

Email us at: youngbpw@nfbpwc.org

Keep in the loop of Young BPW activities and join in on them by following us on:

@YoungBPWUSA

https://www.facebook.com/groups/YoungBPWUSA

BRYN NORRIE
NFBPWC YOUNG BPW CHAIR
2024-2026

I Want to Hear from You!

Hello BPW! Happy May!

Hopefully, you’re getting excited for summer; I know I am. This summer is going to be one of many transitions for me and my family. From me moving to a new place and getting ready for law school, to my brother graduating from college in NYC, and my parents potentially PCSing, it will be a busy summer.

May is National Military Appreciation Month, which is close to my heart, as my father is active-duty Army and almost everyone in my family is in the Army or married to someone in the Army. It's truly like a family business for us.

Those who serve are so honorable, and I am thankful for their sacrifice. In addition to honoring them this month, I would like to ask you to also honor their families this month. While their service is wildly different, military families also serve. Whether it’s a support system for each other during deployments and difficult times, moving with their active-duty spouses or parents to support the mission, or ensuring many traditions are preserved for families and soldiers, the families are there every day.

I am extremely proud of my father and am honored to be part of a military family. It was a great way to growup, and I appreciate the perspective it gave me of the world around me, and the values it instilled in me.

So, happy National Military Appreciation Month to all our Military-Connected BPW Ladies. Your service is greatly appreciated!

What is Young BPW?

If you're between the ages of 18-35 and are looking to collaborate on BPW local and international initiatives – including career, leadership, and women's rights -- then Young BPW is for you!

Young BPW members exchange ideas, information, and support to help keep all members achieving theircareer potential. We offer a tight-knit, engaged community, as well as leadership opportunities, resources, and career-focused programs.

Email us at: youngbpw@nfbpwc.org

Keep in the loop of Young BPW activities and join in on them by following us on:

@YoungBPWUSA

https://www.facebook.com/groups/YoungBPWUSA

BRYN NORRIE
NFBPWC YOUNG BPW CHAIR
2024-2026

I Want to Hear from You!

I want to hear from you! As part of the Roadmap for Young BPW initiative, I want to hear your stories about BPW and life as a professional woman. These 30-minute recorded interviews will be posted online for all YBPW to access and learn from.

If a recorded interview isn’t your thing, let me know! We can try to come up with a different way to get your story out there. The guiding questions will be:

In one sentence, what would be your advice to young women today?

What’s one piece of advice that you wish you had when you were just starting out?

Each of you has such valuable and important experiences that I want to ensure they are captured. Young women stand on the shoulders of the women who came before us; hearing your stories will allow us to stand even taller.

If you are interested in participating, please click on the link below, which will take you to the form to let me know I need to reach out to you. If you have any questions

or reservations about this program, please let me know. I am more than happy to discuss it with you!

CLICK: https://forms.gle/U2ma6xkVgWXBcBJH6

What is Young BPW?

If you're between the ages of 18-35 and are looking to collaborate on BPW local and international initiatives – including career, leadership, and women's rights -- then Young BPW is for you!

Young BPW members exchange ideas, information, and support to help keep all members achieving their career potential. We offer a tight-knit, engaged community, as well as leadership opportunities, resources, and career-focused programs.

Email us at: youngbpw@nfbpwc.org

Keep in the loop of Young BPW activities and join in on them by following us on:

@YoungBPWUSA

https://www.facebook.com/groups/YoungBPWUSA

BRYN NORRIE
NFBPWC YOUNG BPW CHAIR
2024-2026

A Roadmap for Young Women

As you all remember, last month I announced the new YBPW initiative, “A Roadmap for Young Women.” You likely also noticed that I have not followed up on this at all. Unfortunately, I was part of the thousands of Americans who have lost their jobs due to Trump’s freeze on federal spending, specifically in foreign assistance. My company knew this was coming and I was working crazy overtime trying to get as much money to my partners overseas as I could for work they had already completed prior to our stop work orders; before my company couldn’t afford to do so anymore. Then once I was indefinitely furloughed, I took many moments to just breathe and evaluate what to do next. All of this is a long backstory to say that I am trying to get back on my game now and will be sending out this survey soon. I suddenly have copious amounts of free time and am looking forward to spending it with you all and hearing your stories!

I would like to close my monthly update with a request: if you have the time and would be willing to volunteer some of your time to supporting the thousands of women making a transition out of international development, please let me know!

Our entire industry is gone and most of us are having to pivot ourselves to new careers for the first time. My colleagues and I have been putting together resource guides for this information to be shared.

If you have any advice you’d like to share, it would be greatly appreciated!

What is Young BPW?

If you're between the ages of 18-35 and are looking to collaborate on BPW local and international initiatives – including career, leadership, and women's rights -- then Young BPW is for you!

Young BPW members exchange ideas, information, and support to help keep all members achieving their career potential. We offer a tight-knit, engaged community, as well as leadership opportunities, resources, and career-focused programs.

Email us at: youngbpw@nfbpwc.org

Bryn Norrie NFBPWC Young BPW Chair

2024-2026

Keep in the loop of Young BPW activities and join in on them by following us on:

@YoungBPWUSA

https://www.facebook.com/groups/YoungBPWUSA

---

Remarkable Woman – Yursa Mardini

This month, I would like to highlight Yursa Mardini. Yursa is a 26-year-old woman born in Damascus, Syria. She was a promising young swimmer in Syria with dreams of qualifying for the Olympics. It was difficult for her to train when the Syrian Civil War broke out.

After a missile destroyed her home, she and her sister, Sara, decided to flee Syria and go to Europe. They went through Lebanon and Turkey before getting on to a small boat organized by a migrant smuggler. There were 18 people on this boat, despite the boat only being made to hold less than half of that. 

This boat was supposed to take them to Greece. However, partway through their journey, their boat started sinking. Remarkably, Yursa and Sara used their strength in swimming to pull their boat through the water for 3 hours until they landed in Greece. Everyone aboard survived this treacherous journey.

The sisters then traveled by foot to Germany from Greece and requested asylum in Germany. While in Germany, a swim coach found Yursa and began working with her.

Eventually, Yursa qualified for the Olympics as part of the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team in 2016 and competed in the 100 m women’s butterfly and 100 m women’s freestyle events.

Since then, she has become a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and is considered one of the world's strongest advocates for refugee rights.

In 2023, she started the Yursa Mardini Foundation to support global sports and education for refugees. Her story is truly inspiring and demonstrates the power of community and support even in the most desperate times.

Yursa’s inspiring story has turned into a docu-drama titled “The Swimmers” and can be watched on Netflix.