ABWA - American Business Women's Association

Mission

To bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support and national recognition.

Today, the American Business Women’s Association spans the nation as the world’s most diverse professional organization for women. Tens of thousands of members gather throughout the country, united by a common goal – to support each other in professional development and career advancement.

ABWA has long been accepted as one of the leading business women’s associations in the United States and its far-reaching influence has touched the lives and careers of so many. It’s incredible to realize that it all began more than 50 years ago, when the term “business woman” was an oddity and an association dedicated to advancing women’s careers was simply unheard of.

History in the Making

1949 was part of the post-war era and the American boys had come home from World War II, eager to exchange their soldier’s garb for the business attire and workman’s clothing they had left behind.

When the men initially had answered the call to arms, an immense gap was created in the American workforce, and the women remaining behind were expected to fill it. When that war whistle blew, women left their homes in droves to serve their country, taking the places of the men who had gone to fight.

World War II was the first time that American women were recognized as a viable factor in the workforce. But the end of the war meant that women were expected to leave their newfound careers and return to their homes. However, their desire to seek fulfillment as part of the working world was not easily suppressed.

Kansas City, Mo., businessman Hilary A. Bufton Jr. recognized the positive impact women had been having upon the economy. He also realized what a widespread loss it would be to let women fade quietly out of the workforce. But given the times, he knew that they couldn’t go it alone.

“It was my feeling all women were seeking and deserved equal business opportunities,” he later wrote. “They had gained tremendous business knowledge during World War II, through necessity, and I felt that a new organization for all business women was needed.” On Sept. 22, 1949, Bufton and three Kansas City businesswomen incorporated the American Business Women’s Association, and the American workforce was changed forever.

Blazing Trails into the Future

Today, under Elman’s guidance, ABWA continues to serve as the ultimate source of professional development opportunities, networking support and well-deserved recognition for businesswomen. The organization maintains its national headquarters in Kansas City, yet many changes have occurred.

“ABWA is not the same association that it was 50 years ago,” says Elman. “By continually reinventing itself, ABWA is able to give women what they want today in a professional organization. We follow business trends very closely, and with years of experience upon which to draw, ABWA is able to provide members with the professional tools they need to stay current and to succeed in today’s market.”

The keys to ABWA’s success include developing different membership options and securing critical strategic alliances. Working with such preeminent groups as the prestigious Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which focuses solely on entrepreneurial success, and FranklinCovey, the acclaimed time-management organization, allows ABWA to provide members with exceptional resources at below-market rates.

New ground was broken in 2003 with the ABWA-KU MBA Essentials program. This unprecedented learning opportunity provides master’s degree level basics in a variety of critical business subjects. The top-notch curriculum is designed and taught by faculty from the highly regarded University of Kansas School of Business and its KU Center for Management Education.

For more than a half century, the American Business Women’s Association has been a significant thread woven tightly in the fabric of American history. Its unparalleled success in supporting the dreams and aspirations of workingwomen across the nation shall continue well into the future, changing women’s lives for many years to come.

American Business Women's Association

9100 Ward Parkway, PO Box 8728

Kansas City, MO 64114-0728 USA

Phone 1-800-228-0007

Fax (816) 361-4991

abwa@abwa.org

www.abwa.org

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