History of the Organization
Dr. Ivan Misner was a management consultant when he started the organization in 1985. He worked with companies that needed assistance in strategic planning and organizational development. As a business consultant, he received most of his business through referrals. However, he was not satisfied with the types of business groups that existed, and he put together a networking group that was structured, focused on doing business, and had an emphasis on positive reinforcement and support. That organization became BNI®.
To learn the entire history of BNI® globally and in your country, you can find an electronic copy of Givers Gain®: The BNI® Story on BNI® University under Training > Courses.