Our Culture

We are a community of professionals, and we conduct ourselves professionally.

• Be welcoming.
• Be kind.
• Be honest.
• Look out for each other.

We invite all those who participate in the activities of BPMA to help us create safe and positive experiences for everyone. If you see someone who is making an extra effort to ensure our community is welcoming, friendly, and encourages all participants to contribute to the fullest extent, we want to know.

The following behaviors are considered unacceptable within our community:

• Conduct, speech, jokes, nicknames, or attitudes which are sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist, or otherwise discriminatory in nature.
• Intimidation, harassment, or stalking, online or in-person.
• Disrespect towards differences of opinion.
• Inappropriate attention or contact. You should have someone’s consent before touching them.
• Sustained disruption of community events, including talks and presentations.
• Using offensive backgrounds, sharing offensive content online, or “Zoom-bombing.”
• Violence, threats of violence or violent language.
• Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.

Be aware of how your actions affect others. If it makes someone uncomfortable, stop.

If you believe anyone is in physical danger, please notify appropriate law enforcement first.

• Unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated from any community member, including event attendees, sponsors, volunteers, BPMA board members, partners, and presenters.
• Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately.
• If violations occur, BPMA leaders or volunteers will take action they deem appropriate for the infraction, up to and including expulsion (without refund in the case of a paid event). This notice serves as your warning.

And if someone takes issue with something you said or did, resist the urge to be defensive. Just stop doing what it was they complained about and apologize. Everyone wants to get along and we are all here first and foremost because we want to learn and connect with other members of the Product community. You will find that people will be eager to assume good intent and forgive as long as you earn their trust.