President's message 2012 “Economic Equality: The Prophecy Lives On…”
BPW Members and Friends,
I would like to begin this message with a big thank you. I know our members work tirelessly to bring BPW values to life on a daily basis. I would like to acknowledge and thank each and every one of you for the wonderful work that you are continuing around the world in the name of BPW. I continue to hear reports of, and experience first hand the stories of our members as they bring their creativity and imagination to bear on some of our most difficult social problems. Each making a difference.
Each promoting gender balance.
Each a beacon of resilience and hope. The theme chosen for this triennium is Empowered Women Leading Business - from the top, at all levels and in the community. The theme models where we want to be.. as “empowered women”, deeply engaged as leaders in all areas of civil society.. I encourage you all to embrace the BPW definition of business - the broader definition of BPW business. “Business” in this context describes all economies - global economies, country economies, state and local economies; the economics of society including the social and environmental aspects. Our definition is important because despite unprecedented abundance and prosperity, the world is faced with uncertainty and instability. In recent times the word ‘business’ has taken on bad connotations due to the recent financial disasters and catastrophic collapses of prominent businesses and governments with social uprisings growing in number. BPW strongly believes that part of the solution is to see an increased number of women in leadership and decision making roles - this focus is key to our advocacy efforts. Members and Friends,
As you are all aware the world is facing a number of challenges ranging from financial crisis, unemployment, income imbalance to environmental challenges such as climate change. Such circumstances compel us to reflect on the ‘status quo’ of civilization that humankind has pursued to date. To find the solutions to today’s pressing problems we are compelled to go back to our roots to find the answers. Our founder, and past international presidents after her, built this organisation striving for economic equality with the insistence that equality must rise from economic roots. She promoted this objective persistently and was convinced that a woman’s journey to equality could only be truly realised through economic empowerment. In the late forties, when World War II was over and America was becoming increasingly prosperous, our founder, Ms. Lena Madisen Phillips kept on her desk a clipping with these facts:
- American women are already in control of more than 41% of the nation’s individual wealth
- They pay taxes on more than three and a quarter billion of individual income each year
- They are the majority of stockholders in the country’s largest corporations
- They constitute 40% of investment bond-house customers
- They receive 70% of estates left by men and 64% of estates left by other women
- There are more than eight and a half million gainfully employed women
- If they maintain their financial ascendency, all the wealth of the country will be in women’s hands by 2025
The prophecy that was on Lena Madesin Phillip’s desk may well come true, since a comparison between the figures given for the late 40s and those applying to the early 70s show a marked increase in woman’s favour. But vital statistics like these never got the traction nor captured the imagination or attention of governments, media and the private sector of the day. Eighty years on and the inequities in the workplace, marketplace and community, still persist but the armoury is different. I believe we can bring about the change we all want to see. I believe the most crucial weapon in our armoury is information. By equipping members with the vital piece that has been missing for decades - the business case, I believe that once understood, the business case for the economic empowerment of women cannot be ignored.. not by anyone. I urge BPW Affiliates around the world to ensure they have a comprehensive and reasoned understanding of the business case. The business case for economic equality in private enterprise, public economy and civil society at every level. It is a roadmap, a vital link that will lead us to equality in the workplace, marketplace and community – To support the business case, we are assisted by The Women’s Empowerment Principles: Equality Means Business. They are a simple and concise summary of all the change we need to see in our world to bring BPW values to life. 1 A Measure Filled The Life of Lena Medicine Phillips by Lisa Sergio [page :87] 2 The Women's Empowerment Principles are a set of Principles for business offering guidance on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. They are the result of a collaboration between the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM, part of UN Women) and the United Nations Global Compact. With the business case, and the Women’s Empowerment Principles, I believe that we have all that we will ever need to change entrenched behaviours and attitudes towards women. The business case is simple:
“When women are empowered as leaders and businesswomen in the local, national and global economies they encounter, and when women share a proportion of the wealth created by those economies which is equivalent to the proportion of their involvement, then private businesses, public institutions, governments, local communities, and families will all prosper. Business will see increased returns, and better collaborative outcomes; governments will see better results in education and health thereby reducing the welfare burden; families will grow wealthier, children healthier. Economies will grow larger. When women have a seat at the table, all these things will flow. “ Numerous academic and private business surveys support the business case I have just put before you. We have a wealth of information.. I urge you to draw on the knowledge of your fellow BPW Members.. at the affiliate and international level.. I urge you to commit the Women’s Empowerment Principles to memory.. to live them daily in your work with BPW, and model them courageously in your own workplaces and communities.
If we wield the weapon of information.. bringing the business case to all levels of business and society.. and we shoot for the stars by asking our politicians, businesspeople and ourselves to adopt and enforce the Women’s Empowerment Principles.. well then I know we will have achieved more than I ever dreamed when we first set upon this triennial theme.. and I know we can do it. Members and friends,
Our ambition is nothing less than to change the world. I know we can do it, I see the changes we make together every day.. and I know they add up to achieving our vision. Yes our aims are ambitious - it is through innovative practices and outreach that we seek not only to make a difference to gender diversity but also to make an impact on business itself. And it is my sincere hope that the dialogue that emanates from the minds gathered here tonight will offer fresh and innovative ideas and proposals for your club that can create practical avenues towards realising our goals.
At this time of reflection, l leave you with the words of our founder: “Never forget that you are engaged in a very real and very constructive piece of work - something for which no money can pay - something which can only be bought with the best of your whole being - something that is part of God’s great plan of making the world right and men and women free. Be practical in your work, but never lose the dream of our great vision of the future”. Members and Friends,
Thank you for taking the triennial theme to heart and helping us all to grow this vision into a reality and for welcoming me so warmly this evening. I take enormous pleasure in acknowledging and thanking all the pioneers of BPW that have helped shape our organisation for what it is today. As I thank you this evening, at our candlelight ceremony, as we join with our sisters around the world, and speak with one voice of empowerment. For empowerment. For equality.
Thank you my members and friends.
Freda Miriklis
President, BPW International 2011-2014
1 A Measure Filled The Life of Lena Medicine Phillips by Lisa Sergio [page :87]
2 The Women's Empowerment Principles are a set of Principles for business offering guidance on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. They are the result of a collaboration between the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM, part of UN Women) and the United Nations Global Compact.
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Candle Lighting Ceremonies
