Young BPW - Sept 26

First They Give You a Name Badge…

Merry Christmas! Here’s Your Wine and a Committee.

A Lesson in Governance: Listening From the Outside

One of the things I am learning through governance is the value of hearing how other people see the organisations we belong to.

Recently, during a conversation in the wider women’s sector, I heard BPW described as an organisation whose members may have had greater access to education, professional networks and training — opportunities that can make it easier for women to organise collectively, develop skills and support one another.

It made me think about my own journey.

I found BPW as a young woman studying at university because I was looking for mentoring. Around the same time, I was borrowing business and entrepreneurship books from my public library. I knew education alone would not necessarily be enough, particularly as a disabled woman. I wanted to understand how to create opportunities for myself.

Not long afterwards, I co-founded an unconventional business in sports and live entertainment. From the beginning, my co-founder and I agreed that female participation and recognition would matter.

BPW became another important part of my development. Through it I have learned to chair meetings, speak on panels, contribute to governance and represent an organisation in wider forums.

Yet there have also been times when I have been without work, had very little money in my bank account, or wondered whether I belonged in BPW because I did not consider myself an expert.

So I found the observation about privilege interesting rather than something I needed to agree or disagree with. It reminded me that privilege can also be access — to knowledge, networks, encouragement and opportunities to practise leadership.

Being part of BPW has made me want more for myself, but more importantly it has made me unequivocally passionate about helping other women step into leadership and thrive.

It leaves me with a question: if BPW has generations of knowledge, networks and experience, how can we use them to create opportunities for more women?

Sometimes listening to how others see us can help us see ourselves a little differently too. And perhaps that is the real Christmas spirit in governance — not just the wine and the committee invitations, but the willingness to pause, reflect, and share what we have so that more women can find their place at the table, not only in December, but all year round.

P.S. You’re right — it is only September. But it’s never too early to get into the Christmas spirit… or to grab your Conference 2027 ticket. And if you’re not quite ready, perhaps add it to your Christmas wish list

Kind regards 

Mel Jones