Going Global: Professional Women’s Group Gets International Offshoot

The National Association of Professional Women  (opens in a new tab)  is getting a new cousin with a global focus.

On Monday, NAPW’s parent company, the Professional Diversity Network, Inc., announced the launch of the International Association of Women  (opens in a new tab), a group that aims to bring the benefits of the existing group to people around the world.

Like the U.S.-based group, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, IAW will offer both virtual and in-person events for its members, along with a variety of professional development tools, such as on-demand learning opportunities, an online career center, access to scholarships and other forms of financial assistance, and a variety of promotional services to allow for wider exposure.

“Attaining a global network will not only prove the power of technology, it will position IAW members to diversify their thinking and connect with the commonalities we as women share,” said IAW Eastern Regional Manager Natalie Fikes, who also serves as the president of the group’s Atlanta chapter.

Like the existing networking group, IAW will utilize former The View panelist Star Jones, the current president of both NAPW and the Professional Diversity Network, as its spokeswoman. Discussing the new group in a news release  (opens in a new tab), she emphasized that the international offshoot “is a natural progression for us” and that the two groups will share resources with one another.

“With women occupying more and more leadership roles in business, government and society, it is true that women are ‘holding up half the sky.’ We look forward to evolving and holding the sky together, allowing us all to dream, rise and lead,” Jones added.

In her role as NAPW’s head, Jones has highlighted a number of issues facing working women, including the biases they face around family issues.

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