Content, Inspiration, 
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And just like that, we're at the end of the year. From professional development, to events attended, to personal insights — the OWA's year has been summarized in the weekly OWA Connects blog . A special thanks to our contributors throughout the year — OWA committee members , industry experts and sponsors — without you, this incredible content would not be possible. You are improving our community one blog post at a time 💗 These were the most popular articles of 2025: 10. Ou

The results of the October 2025 Leadership Scholarship nominations are in! The  Leadership Scholarship Award  recognizes OWA members who have served the OWA with their dedicated committee work and strong commitment to growing leadership roles for women in the optical industry. These grants are used for professional and personal development of the recipients who were nominated by other OWA members. Many thanks go to our OWA  Individual Contributors , whose donations help make

There’s something magical about the holiday season. People smile more, hold doors open, exchange warm greetings and wish one another well. A simple "Happy Holidays” or a friendly nod in passing seems to come so naturally this time of year. It’s as if the world slows down just enough for us to notice each other again — to see the humanity that connects us all. Have you ever stopped to wonder why it feels easier to extend kindness in December than it does in, say, February? The

The OWA Unplugged retreat was everything I hoped for and so much more. As someone very new to the optical industry, I wasn’t sure what to expect but hearing from so many inspiring women and having the space to connect with them on a deeper, more personal level, was truly transformative. What stood out most throughout the weekend was the genuine connections. I found myself forming friendships with women from all different walks of life, each with their own stories, strengths,

The OWA works hard to provide useful and relevant content and events for our members — listening to the industry is vital to our success and we greatly appreciate your input. Please take a minute or two to complete this short and simple survey. Thank you in advance for your feedback! Thank you so much for taking the time to help us improve the OWA, we look forward to continuing to bring you great content and events!

The ClearVision-Adira Grant, founded in 2024 in partnership with the Optical Women’s Association, has quickly become a defining program supporting women’s growth and advancement across the optical industry. “The foundational role of my mother Mimi Friedfeld, as a founding member of the OWA, underscores ClearVision's deep-rooted commitment to supporting women in the optical industry,” David Friedfeld, co-owner and president of ClearVision, said. “This collaboration with the OW