Women lead the way this week

To honor the contributions of working women and employers who support working women and their families, the Business and Professional Women’s Foundation (BPWF) celebrates National Business Women’s Week (NBWW). The third full workweek in October ushers in National Business Women’s Week each year. This year, that celebration will be hosted on October 12 – 16.

The observance focuses on the accomplishments of women in business. It also takes a look at the past, at how far women in business have come and how far they have yet to go. The initiative was first observed in 1928 under the auspices of the Business and Professional Women’s Foundation. It has been regularly celebrated during the third week of October since 1938. NBWW has long championed women in the business world by enabling “[the] opportunity to call attention to women entrepreneurs, facilitate discussions on the needs of working women, share information about successful workplace policies, and raise awareness of the resources for working women in their communities” (Linkedin).

The article goes on to say, “While business women have made major advances in the workforce since the early 20th century, and there is much to celebrate in regards to the significant increase in women entrepreneurs in recent years, women still face hurdles in male dominated industries such as technology.”

NationalDayCalendar.com tells us that “every year, women in the workforce take on stronger, more empowering roles. They run their own businesses, take charge of the boardroom, and build upon last year’s successes. At one time, very few women even had a voice. Around 100 years ago some of the things women couldn’t do include vote, divorce, join the military, own property without being married, shop without an escort, work fair hours, and a lot more. Today, women-owned businesses generate nearly $1.8 trillion in sales. Of privately-owned companies, women own 40 percent of them and employ almost 9 million people. Their contributions to the economy cannot go unnoticed.”

Many of today’s female students will become business women. Some will work as business owners or work in offices, others will find careers in sales or administration. Whatever career path they choose, they will  benefit from the work of the women who came before them for over 80 years.