From the first BNI Chapter to a community in 70 countries
From 1985 to the present day
The history of BNI begins in 1985 with the experiences of Dr Ivan Misner and the first Chapter. It is continued by business owners who regularly build trust and take responsibility for the referrals they pass on.
First came the Chapter. From its experience grew a system
Dr Ivan Misner establishes the first BNI Chapter. Its practice becomes the basis for a model founded on consistency, reciprocity and accountability for referrals.
From this practice grows Givers Gain® — a philosophy according to which growth begins with a readiness to support others. You give a contact, knowledge or a referral because you understand the other person’s business and see the right opportunity for them.
The principles were created alongside the Chapter. A Member provides high-quality services at the stated prices, takes responsibility for the contacts they pass on and is trustworthy towards the people they refer. The same principles apply to every BNI Member today — not as a separate document, but as a condition of working within a Chapter.
CNN called Dr Ivan Misner “the father of modern networking” because he turned chance encounters into work that can be planned and repeated. One Chapter in California became the starting point for an organisation that now operates on every continent.
- Consistencya relationship develops to the rhythm of successive meetings and conversations
- UnderstandingMembers understand one another’s offer, customers and way of doing business
- ReciprocityGivers Gain® turns a willingness to help into the Chapter’s culture
- Accountabilitybehind every referral stands a specific person and their judgement of the situation
This is what previous conventions and conferences looked like
Recordings from past editions — global and Polish, starting with the most recent.
Once a year, the entire organisation meets at a Global Convention — it has already been held in Sydney, Hawaii, Madrid, Singapore, Bangkok and Long Beach, and in 2019 Warsaw was the host. By joining a Chapter in your city, you join a community that meets all over the world — and that door is open to you.
Global Convention
Sydney, Australia
Four days of talks and workshops at ICC Sydney — the first BNI convention in Australia.
Global Convention
Honolulu, Hawaii
The BNI Global Convention in Honolulu — Members from all over the world meeting in Hawaii.
Global Convention
Madrid, Spain
On stage: Ivan Misner, Graham Weihmiller, Dan Monaghan and Claudia Lowry. BNI Polska was represented by 19 people.
National conference
Kraków, Poland
Two days of sessions and an evening awards Gala — over 200 business owners from across the country.
Global Convention
Singapore
Over 2,500 delegates at Resorts World Sentosa. The first in-person edition after the pandemic break.
Regional gala
Lublin, Poland
Ten years of BNI in Lublin — over 100 business owners at the Lublin Conference Centre.
Global Convention
Long Beach, California
Over 1,300 attendees from more than 70 countries. Members’ Day opened with a lecture by Verne Harnish.