‘YBPW and all other state chapters are supported by BPW/Ohio. BPW/Ohio offers a variety of state programs, meetings, conferences, workshops and seminars that provide training, skill building, and networking. BPW/Ohio is an affiliate of BPW Foundation, an organization that advocates for the rights of working women on a national level.

Since 1920, BPW/Ohio has promoted equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, personal and professional development and access to information. Over 550 women and men belong to BPW/Ohio through local chapters, representing every congressional district in the state, as well as every age, race, religion, political party and socioeconomic background.

BPW/Ohio monitors federal and state legislation that affects working women and educates its members so they can become involved in public policy development in their own workplace and at the local, state and federal levels. A legislative platform, approved annually, includes planks that call for economic equity, equal educational opportunity, quality dependent care, access to reproductive health, research on and funding for womens health, victims rights and affirmative action.

Individual Development

The Individual Development Program, begun in the late 1960s, gave women the opportunity to develop public speaking, presentation, and leadership skills that would benefit their careers. The program has evolved over the years to meet the changing needs of women, but the core of the program remains a communications and public speaking focus.

The first part of the ID program contains 12- 14 modules led by a facilitator and takes approximately 15 to 16 hours. Sessions run from two to eight hours a day, with a typical class ranging from two eight-hour days to eight weeks. Topics of the class modules include understanding behavioral styles and managing for improved performance, interpersonal and transferable skills, public speaking and speech/pitch writing, interview skills, negotiation tactics, leadership skills, the parliamentary process, business etiquette, goal setting, and building media relationships and grassroots advocacy.

When the modules are completed, YBPW selects an ID candidate to represent the chapter in the Regional Individual Development Competition. The regional winner will then compete at the BPW/Ohio Individual Development Speak-off at the BPW/Ohio Leadership Training in April. The winner of the Speak-off will be given the opportunity to represent BPW/Ohio at its State Conference in May. The past two years it’s been virtual to allow for multiple BPW/OH Regions to co-facilitate and participate, without the need for travel. 

For more information, important dates, and forms, please click here.