Get a sneak peek of the event schedule here.
Since 1975, NAWBO has been the voice of women business owners—making sure we are at the table with key decision makers on Capitol Hill and speaking out on the issues that are most important, plus empowering our chapter leaders and members to do the same in their states and communities across the U.S. To best represent the diversity within our membership, all the business advocacy issues we engage in are bipartisan in nature.
NAWBO’s Advocacy Day is designed to bring all these voices together and amplify them in Washington, DC, where our organization and its advocacy efforts all began 50 years ago. This year’s one-day event includes:
NAWBO’s Annual Membership Meeting is an important day for leaders and members to hear from NAWBO’s CEO Jen Earle and National and Institute Board leaders about the progress of our organization’s membership, advocacy and community-building priorities and what lies ahead as we celebrate our milestone 50th anniversary and look ahead to the next 50 years.
Highlights of this year’s Membership Meeting include:
As the strongest voice and supporter of our nation's 14 million women business owners for 50 years now, NAWBO is proud to bring together more than 1,000 members and non-members—of all ages, sizes, stages and industries—at this signature national in-person event designed to power their dreams.
NAWBO’s National Women’s Business Conference, or WBC, is known for:
And since 2025 is NAWBO’s golden anniversary, expect this year’s WBC to truly be a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
NAWBO’s 50th anniversary event calls for some incredibly accomplished and inspirational keynote speakers. More will be announced in coming weeks, but here’s what you can look forward to so far:
Ashley Judd, Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated actress, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and advocate for girls and women worldwide
Ashley knows what it’s like to want to make the world a better place—and more importantly, to use her voice, even when at times it felt like she was the only one, to help make small yet meaningful changes that amount to significant change over time. For Ashley, her advocacy passions are the rights and health of girls and women worldwide. For NAWBO, it’s bipartisan issues impacting women and small business owners. Grab a seat for this inspiring chat about what’s possible when you use your voice for good. Ashley’s efforts have indeed made the world a better place and earned her recognitions like Time magazine’s 2017 Person of the Year and the United Nations 2019 Global Advocate of the Year.
NAWBO’s 50th event sessions are designed around our three pillars of Education, Leadership and Advocacy that guide our organization’s important work on behalf of our nation’s women business owners. Here’s what you can expect from these sessions—all featuring the highest caliber speakers who are leaders in their fields:
Education is the foundation of every woman’s entrepreneurial success. It helps us to develop skills, think more critically, discover new ideas and stay motivated to pursue our dreams. Join us for these sessions designed to educate!
Leadership provides the vision and strategy to transform our companies and communities and redefine the business landscape for the better. Join us for these sessions designed to inspire us as leaders in this world of change!
Advocacy is when we use our voices to confidently stand up and speak out on issues that really matter to us as women and small business owners. Join us for these sessions designed to power our unique voice and impact!
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
—Margaret Mead
NAWBO’s growth and success over the past 50 years has been the result of women business owners who are committed to bringing their passion, talent and insights to change the world for the better for women business owners in their cities, states, nationally and around the globe. NAWBO is incredibly grateful to all who step up to lead, and for the incredible trailblazers, including past national presidents/chairs, who are joining us for NAWBO’s 50th event. Please come meet and be inspired by them during our days together!
