Building a Culture of Inclusion Across BPW—A Call to Awareness, Action, and Authentic Belonging

I have been talking often of membership and get lots of suggestions from many. Our intention to revitalize our organization is through talking to people, attending outside events, and reaching out to other establishments.

What are you saying to people you meet in any of these situations? Are you in asking what BPW can do for them? Do you carry business cards or a QR code to offer?

Which brings me to what, in short, constitutes inclusion:

when a person's inherent worth is recognized, and they feel a sense of belonging, so they want to join our journey.

Let’s look at “Inclusion”

It has always been at the heart of the Business and Professional Women’s mission. For more than a century, BPW has uplifted women’s voices, advanced equal rights, and created pathways for leadership and economic justice. But as our communities evolve, so must our commitment to inclusion—not as an initiative, not as a statement, but as a daily practice embedded in every state, district, and club.

True inclusion is not an event or a checklist. It is the ongoing work of creating spaces where every woman feels welcomed, valued, heard, and empowered to participate fully. And in a world shaped by cultural difference, age diversity, shifting economies, and globally-connected challenges, inclusion requires awareness, intentionality, and humility from all of us.

Why Inclusion Matters in BPW Today Women’s professional and personal realities are diverse. Our members come from different generations, cultures, languages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and lived experiences. When we create environments that embrace this diversity, we strengthen our organization in powerful ways:

• Inclusion builds leadership pipelines by ensuring members from all backgrounds feel capable of contributing.

• Inclusion increases membership retention by fostering a sense of belonging instead of a sense of obligation.

• Inclusion attracts new members who can recognize BPW as a modern, relevant, and welcoming organization.

• Inclusion fuels innovative ideas because diverse perspectives broaden our vision and solutions.

• When we are not inclusive, we unintentionally limit the growth, potential, and legacy of our clubs.

This is the beginning of understanding inclusion! Let’s continue this dialogue.

SHER SINGH
JDEI CHAIR