International Federation of Business and Professional Women
Professional services
UnclaimedAn international membership organization that supports the networking, leadership, economic participation, and advancement of business and professional women.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The International Federation of Business and Professional Women, commonly known as BPW International, is a worldwide membership organization focused on strengthening the position of women in business, the professions, public life, and economic decision-making. It provides a network through national federations, local clubs, and regional structures, giving members opportunities to exchange experience, develop leadership capabilities, receive mentoring, and participate in advocacy. The organization presents the perspectives of business and professional women to international institutions and works to promote equal participation by women and men in decision-making at all levels. BPW International was established in Geneva, Switzerland, on 26 August 1930. Its founding followed a series of international goodwill trips organized by Lena Madesin Phillips, then president of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs in the United States. The tours, held in Europe in 1928 and 1929, connected American clubwomen with counterparts in several European countries and helped create the basis for a permanent international federation. Austria, Canada, France, Great Britain, Italy, and the United States were the founding member countries. Phillips became the federation's first international president and remained in that role until 1947. During its early development, BPW International built relationships with established women's organizations and international bodies. Its headquarters moved from Geneva to London in 1934, where the federation shared office space at 20 Regent Street with the Electrical Association for Women. Caroline Haslett, a British engineer associated with that organization, became a BPW International vice-president in 1936 and later served as international president beginning in 1950. The federation's historical work included advocacy on professional opportunity, equal pay, women's participation in public affairs, and recognition of women's contribution to economic and social life. The organization operates through a federated model rather than as a conventional commercial enterprise. Local, regional, and national clubs are expected to engage actively in economic, political, and social life. Its activities include professional networking, mentoring, training, leadership development, lobbying, and projects aimed at women's economic empowerment. BPW International states that its objectives are pursued without distinction based on ethnicity, race, religion, or political beliefs. BPW International has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and participatory status with the Council of Europe. These relationships allow it to contribute the views of its membership to policy discussions and international initiatives concerning women's rights, employment, entrepreneurship, leadership, and equality. Public reference material describes a global reach extending to more than 100 countries and membership numbering more than a quarter of a million, although the exact current figures may vary by reporting period. The federation remains an international platform for women seeking professional connections, collective advocacy, and greater representation in economic and public decision-making.
History
The International Federation of Business and Professional Women was created in Geneva, Switzerland, on 26 August 1930. Its formation was led by Dr. Lena Madesin Phillips, an American organizer who had served as president of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs in the United States. Phillips had arranged goodwill tours to Europe in 1928 and 1929, bringing hundreds of American clubwomen into contact with business and professional women in Europe. Those exchanges provided the practical and international foundation for a new federation. Austria, Canada, France, Great Britain, Italy, and the United States were the founding member countries. Phillips became the first president and served through 1947. The federation's original purpose was to build cooperation among women working in business and the professions, while creating a collective voice on questions affecting women's employment, professional status, and participation in public life. Phillips also served as president of the International Council of Women in 1933, in connection with the Chicago World's Fair, giving her a prominent role in the broader international women's movement. In 1934, the federation transferred its headquarters from Geneva to London. It shared premises at 20 Regent Street with the Electrical Association for Women, linking BPW's activities with a prominent British organization concerned with women's access to technology, employment, and public education. British engineer Caroline Haslett became a BPW vice-president in 1936 and later assumed the international presidency in 1950. The federation continued to develop its national and local club structure as its membership expanded. The organization's history also includes activity in national debates over equal pay and women's economic rights. In Australia, Ann Margaret Magoffin, known as Peg Magoffin, chaired the national finance committee during the 1950s and 1960s and became president in 1966. She reorganized the Australian organization into branches in each state. In 1960, the organization was permitted to intervene in an equal-pay dispute, and Magoffin prepared a submission for the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration. This episode illustrates the federation's combination of professional networking and practical policy advocacy. Over time, BPW International developed from a network of national clubs into a global organization with branches in more than 100 countries. Its work has broadened to include mentoring, leadership development, skills building, lobbying, and economic empowerment projects. Local, regional, and national members are encouraged to participate actively in the economy, politics, and society and to support professional women through collective action. The federation maintains relationships with international institutions. It has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and participatory status with the Council of Europe, enabling it to bring the views of business and professional women into international policy processes. Contemporary BPW International presents itself as a non-discriminatory organization working across ethnic, racial, religious, and political boundaries. It remains a membership-based international federation rather than a commercial brand, with its principal activities centered on representation, networking, professional development, and women's equal participation in decision-making.
- 1966
Australian branch restructuring
[1]Ann Margaret Magoffin became president of the Australian organization and reorganized it into branches in each state.
- 1960
Participation in an equal-pay dispute
[1]The organization was allowed to intervene in an Australian equal-pay dispute and prepared a submission for the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration.
- 1950
Caroline Haslett became international president
[1]Haslett later advanced to the federation's international presidency.
- 1936
Caroline Haslett became a vice-president
[1]British engineer Caroline Haslett joined the federation's international leadership as a vice-president.
- 1934
Headquarters moved to London
[1]BPW International relocated its headquarters from Geneva to London and shared space with the Electrical Association for Women.
- 1930
Federation founded in Geneva
[1]The international federation was established on 26 August in Geneva, with Austria, Canada, France, Great Britain, Italy, and the United States as founding countries.
- 1929
Second goodwill tour
[1]A further European tour expanded the relationships that later led to the creation of BPW International.
- 1928
First European goodwill tour
[1]Lena Madesin Phillips organized an international goodwill tour that connected American business and professional women with counterparts in Europe.
Products and positioning
A global, non-commercial network and advocacy platform for business and professional women, combining professional development and peer networking with international representation on gender equality and economic participation.
Membership organization · 1930
BPW International membership network
A federated network of national organizations, regional structures, and local clubs for women working in business and the professions. Membership provides opportunities for peer exchange, professional relationships, collective advocacy, and participation in international initiatives.
Professional development
Mentoring and professional development
BPW International supports members through mentoring, skills building, leadership development, and activities intended to improve women's professional and business potential at different stages of their careers.
Advocacy and social impact
Advocacy and economic empowerment programs
The federation communicates the views of business and professional women to international bodies and supports projects promoting women's economic participation, equal opportunity, and representation in decision-making.
Brand decisions
1960
Intervention in an Australian equal-pay disputeOtherBackground
An equal-pay dispute created an opportunity for the organization to apply its professional network to a formal employment-rights proceeding.
Action taken
The organization was permitted to intervene and prepared a submission for the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration.
Aftermath
The episode became an example of BPW's practical advocacy for women's employment equality.
1934
Relocation of the international headquarters to LondonStrategyBackground
After its foundation in Geneva, the federation developed a broader European operating base and moved its headquarters to London.
Action taken
BPW International transferred its headquarters and shared premises with the Electrical Association for Women at 20 Regent Street.
Aftermath
The move strengthened the federation's presence in Britain during an important period of organizational expansion.
Sources2 sources
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