Dr. Lena Madesin Phillips
"Each woman, as a citizen, must bring to the national policy of her own country, the contribution of forward-looking and constructive thought followed by determined action. Each woman must dedicate herself to protect and promote the interest of all other women in business and the professions."
DR. LENA MADESIN PHILIPS
FOUNDER OF INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF BUSINESS AN PROFESSIONAL WOMEN
A Brief History of BPW
1919
In 1919, Dr. Lena Madesin Phillips founded the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Club in United States. As she sensed what power could be generated by a national movement to organize all women who had a business or a profession.
Late 1920s
In the late 1920s, she crossed and recrossed the Atlantic finding like-minded European leaders, and inspiring them to give their all for the same cause to make soundings for an International Federation. She did not know the meaning of the word barrier. In 1930, she successfully founded the International Federation of Business and Professional Women.
1955
In 1955, Dr. Lena Madesin Phillips was on her way to the Lebanon, the meeting point of three continents, to ignite more fires for the cause of women's equality, when the end suddenly overtook her. She passed away in Marseilles, in 1955, on her way to a conference with Arab women in the Middle East.