We are so excited that you are here! We want to take this moment to officially welcome you to the site and invite you to join us in our mission of promoting the leadership role of women by becoming an OWA member. The OWA is a diverse group and is proud to be made up of women that occupy a wide variety roles and responsibilities in the industry.
We support our membership by providing mentoring and outreach opportunities, professional and social networking, a forum for the exchange of ideas and information among all levels of the industry, and by raising awareness of women's roles in the optical industry. But, those aren't the only perks! We also host annual events in New York and Las Vegas that coincide with the Vision Expo shows that have become must-attend destinations for anyone going to the shows. On top of that, our members also receive an annual magazine subscription and book selection that support our overall mission.
The benefits of an OWA membership include but are not limited to the following.
One way that we accomplish on-demand mentoring is through our One-Minute Inspiration emails. These emails are delivered to OWA members and provide quick tips for professional growth and development.
Listen to OWA's Podcast — monthly chats featuring influential optical leaders sharing their insights and stories on trending topics that matter. Join hosts Sandra Mohr, Dean of Academic Resources and Administration at the New England College of Optometry, and Stephanie Espinosa, a Sales Representative at Luxottica.
The great benefits of OWA membership include making new connections and the opportunity to grow professionally from these connections. The OWA's Fireside Chats are designed to connect OWA members through different business disciplines. All OWA members are invited to join the Fireside Chat(s) of their particular interest(s).
The OWA provides a job board for members. Members and sponsors may list open positions for free. Non-members may list open positions for $150.
All members receive their choice of a book from a thoughtfully compiled list of titles meant to inspire and educate. The 2022 book selections are The Digital Sales Rep by Trudi Charest, Think Again by Adam Grant, Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman, and It's Your Ship by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff.
Our Connection Series Lunch is held at Vision Expo West and often features one of the books from the member book selection. In 2022, we were fortunate to have our own Trudi Charest, author of The Digital Sales Rep. Trudi was joined on stage by a panel of experts discussing the future of the eyecare industry and building your personal brand.
The OWA hosts a variety of networking events with leading women in the optical industry that provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information among all levels of the industry. Some events are regional, while the largest events take place in New York and Las Vegas at each Vision Expo. Take advantage of getting to know your peers in the industry!
All members have the opportunity to be recognized and honored for making a significant impact for women in the optical industry through the Pleiades, Pyxis, Pinnacle, and Lifetime Achievement Awards. The annual event in New York is put on to honor the recipients of these awards each year.
In 2022, the OWA launched the OWA Connects Blog as another way to share educational and inspirational articles with members and supporters. The articles are written by savvy female leaders and highlight trending topics that matter to you.
All current OWA members receive a complimentary, one-year printed subscription (10-issues-per-year) to this full-color business magazine, reporting on topics including innovation, digital media, technology, change management, leadership, design and social responsibility.
This annual directory of all of our members is available online, exclusively to our members. It's an important resource that helps our membership stay connected, and offers a tool for networking with others in the organization.
Learning is a lifelong process, and devoting time to continuing education can help you achieve both personal and career development goals. Whether you're seeking continuing education credits to keep up your certification or state license or want to research a topic . . . .
Below are additional ways that you can contribute to the programs and direction of the OWA:
The OWA is growing every year and we hope you will join us as a member! Thank you again for your interest and support.
If you are interested in more information about the Optical Women's Association, please email us at . Or if you're ready to join now, you may fill out the online membership application.