Content, Inspiration, 
& New Ideas

We were delighted to welcome attendees to beautiful Orlando for our annual Champagne Breakfast , celebrating 2026 OWA award recipients: Susy Yu, OD (Pleiades Award), Liz Friedfeld (Pyxis Award), Alessandra Senici (Polaris Award), and Cathy Firman (Emerging Leader Award). The Champagne Breakfast brought together professionals from across the industry for a morning of connection, inspiration, and celebration. Set in an energizing and welcoming atmosphere, the event offered atte

This year marks Vision Monday’s 24th annual Most Influential Women in Optical report. The Vision Monday editors selected 35 women who are honored in five distinct categories: Executive Suite, Rising Stars, Mentors, Innovators and Above & Beyond. These are women who are continuing to shape the face of our industry from every angle; they are ECPs, executives, sales and marketing professionals, teachers and so much more. But above all, they are women who have had and continue t

MIDO: Milan, Italy The Optical Women’s Association proudly hosted its OWA Global Connection Event at MIDO in Milan, marking an important milestone in the organization’s continued international expansion and its mission to empower women in leadership roles across the global optical industry. The “Leading with Courage: Inspiring Stories of Authenticity” event welcomed a highly engaged audience for a dynamic 45-minute panel discussion followed by an impactful networking session.

The OWA is hosting a global event at 100% Optical in London, England. Shortly thereafter, the OWA will be hosting two events at Vision Expo in Orlando, Florida. We welcome everyone to join us to network with your colleagues and learn more about what the OWA has to offer. OWA Global Event at 100% Optical! Date: Saturday, February 28, 2026 Time: 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM GMT Location: 100% Catwalk at 100% Optical Excel London Royal Victoria Dock 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL T

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

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 Individual Contributor program provides the opportunity for ANY individual to support the OWA and its mission of enhancing and promoting the leadership role of women in the optical industry through networking, education, and peer support. ​ Support from Individual Contributors directly funds the OWA Leadership Scholarship , an award granted to a board-nominated OWA member who has shown exemplary volunteer service in helping the OWA reach its goals. The recipient of this

Connection Series Luncheon At the recent Vision Expo in Las Vegas, I had the privilege of attending the OWA’s Connection Series—Spark Sessions: Women Who Light the Fire—an event that truly lived up to its name. The sessions featured three dynamic 10-minute Lightning Talks, each aligned with one of the OWA’s guiding pillars: Connect, Inspire, and Lead. Emceed by Erinn Morgan, founder of Insight Media Group and Envision Communication, the afternoon brought together women from a

The OWA held its second Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, September 4! It was an opportunity to meet and hear directly from OWA board...

The OWA is hosting three events during Vision Expo West in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shortly thereafter, the OWA will be hosting a networking...

This year marks Vision Monday’s 23rd annual Most Influential Women in Optical report. The Vision Monday editors selected 42 women who are...

OWA member-Adira grant recipients are sharing their stories — goals and aspirations, how they used their funding, and how they plan to...

The Optical Women's Association kicked off Vision Expo East with our signature Champagne Breakfast , sponsored by EssilorLuxottica. While...

The International Expansion Committee (IEC) continues to advance its mission to connect, inspire, and lead women around the globe. In...

In the optical industry, we uplift each other, celebrate our successes, and push boundaries together. But what happens when one of us...

With Vision Expo East in Orlando, Florida for the first time, the OWA events have new venues! The OWA is hosting 2 events during the...

If you’ve logged onto the new OWA website, chances are you’ve seen the Community Corner Section! If you haven’t logged onto the...

And just like that, we're at the end of the year. From professional development, to events attended, to personal insights — the OWA's...

The results of the October 2024 Leadership Scholarship nominations are in! The Leadership Scholarship Award recognizes OWA members who...

This past year I have been on a journey, working to expand my network, experimenting with different ways to grow both personally and...