Why age shouldn't limit career ambitions for women

I turned 50 last month. My biggest advice to young(er) women: Time is your friend. Getting older is not an enemy but an asset. Don’t believe me? Your likelihood of entrepreneurial success is proven to increase with age until you hit 60. The average successful start-up founder’s age is in the mid-40s. A 50-year-old founder is 2x as likely to build a business to IPO or exit as a 30-year-old founder. Let me say that again. TWICE as likely. Too many women feel like they’ve already lost if they haven’t ‘made it’ by 30 or 40 or 50. Trust me, after achieving just about every goal of mine, I STILL don’t have everything figured out. I don’t think anyone ever does. So ignore the social media hype of FOMO and 20-something billionaires. You’re only seeing the highlight reel of other people, not their real life. So don’t use that as a measure to compare yourself. You have time. It’s never too late to start that side hustle or set up your business. Today is always the best time to start because it’s all you can control.

“Even at this age, you continue to work in full-time capacity?” “Oh! You run an engineering company?.”....Wow! I have heard versions of these comments for years. For a while I responded with a smile, sometimes with a polite thank you. Now I pause and ask myself what sits beneath those words. The surprise is never about me. It is about expectation. The expectation that women step back from work after a certain age or certain life event. The expectation that women excel only in certain fields. The expectation that ambition is conditional rather than natural. I often wonder if this is bias wrapped in curiosity or politeness. You see it in the subtleness of raised eyebrows when a woman shows up prepared. You hear it in the tone of disbelief when she speaks about systems with authority. I have no interest in being the exception that surprises people. My real work is to shift the baseline. To make it normal for women at every age, in every field, to be seen as leaders without a question mark attached. So the next time you catch yourself surprised when a woman builds, leads, or excels with experience on her side, just pause and ask yourself why that surprise exists at all. #leadership #growth #mindset #mindfulness #success

It's never too late to pivot careers. Age is not a disqualification. I've helped people make successful career changes at: 28 after realizing corporate wasn't for them.  35 when their industry got automated.  42 after their kids grew up.  48 when they finally decided to chase their dreams. The excuses I hear: "I'm too old to start over."  "I have too much invested in this career."  "No one will hire someone my age."  "I should have done this 10 years ago." Here's the truth: Experience is an asset, not a liability.  Your skills are transferable.  Employers need mature, reliable workers.  You have wisdom younger candidates don't. What you bring to the table: • Work ethic that can't be taught • Professional maturity • Life experience and perspective • Fewer job-hopping concerns The biggest career risk? Staying somewhere that makes you miserable for the next 20 years. Your 40s, 50s, and beyond can be your most fulfilling career years. Stop letting age be your excuse. Start letting it be your advantage.

My sister Maxine Lewis at age 59, made her acting debut yesterday with a short appearance on ITV's Emmerdale. With a long career in teaching and as a foster carer, she is a good example of how we can try new paths at any stage of our lives. Case in point, I started a business in my 40s after a long career as a leader in an organisation; wrote my first book in my 50s; completed a Masters degree in my 40s and then another one in my 50s. One of my other sisters started a modelling career in her 60s. I often speak to people who get to 50+ and say that their age is a barrier to making a career transition or to progressing. Whilst we all know that age is a protected characteristic, we also know that age discrimination does exist. However, there are organisations that value the wisdom and experience someone mature in age brings. Like with all things diversity, organisations also need the richness from the contributions of both the young and the mature (and those in between). Don't think that you are too old to start again or to change career paths because if you do that is the result that you will get. Have you (or anyone you know) made a complete career change over the age of 50? If so, how has the experience been? #Ageism #AntiAgeism #DiversityEquityInclusion

Age is just a number when it comes to chasing your dreams. Your best chapter might be ahead of you. Here's some examples to show it is never too late to start a new chapter: • 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 - Started KFC at 62 after multiple failed businesses • 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮 𝗜𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 - Published her first Little House book at 64 • 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝗴 - Entered fashion design at 40, built empire after 50 • 𝗥𝗮𝘆 𝗞𝗿𝗼𝗰 - Founded McDonald's franchise at 52 • 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 (𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀) - Began painting seriously at 78 Here's how REINVENTING after 50 can work (from coaching hundreds of clients) 𝟭. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 • Decades of experience help you spot opportunities others miss • You know your strengths and can leverage them better • Past failures become valuable lessons, not roadblocks • Better judgment in partnerships and business decisions    𝟮. 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 • Remote work removes age bias from hiring (video calls mean nobody sees your grey hair!) • Online platforms let you start businesses with low overhead • Social media gives direct access to customers worldwide • Gig economy offers flexible ways to test new paths    𝟯. 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 • Start as a side project while keeping your day job • Test ideas with minimal investment before going all-in (do a low-cost probe - test and learn) • Build skills gradually through online courses and workshops (I planned 4 years ahead before I transitioned) • Transition slowly to reduce financial risk    𝟰. 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 • Professional networks you've built over decades • Mentorship programs specifically for career changers • Online communities of people making similar transitions • Family support often stronger when kids are grown 𝟱. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 • No more climbing ladders for other people - build something that excites you • Freedom to say no to toxic clients and bad opportunities (assuming you got mortgage paid off) • Work with people you actually like instead of just tolerating • Finally pursue that thing you've been curious about for 20 years If this speaks to you, here's some words of encouragement: You're not starting over - you're starting ahead. With life expectancy trending toward 100 years, you potentially have 40+ productive years left. That's longer than most people's entire first career. You have something no 25-year-old has: wisdom earned through experience, networks built over decades, and the clarity that only comes with time. And the best part, you can choose to slow down or accelerate. Start building your next chapter now so you have a smooth transition. (I call this - Build your parachute for a soft landing) What will you start today? Follow Adeline Tiah for stories on reinvention and future of work. Image credit: Ideogram

AGEISM.... Heard of this term ? "Ageism refers to discrimination, prejudice, or stereotypes based on a person's age, especially against older adults or younger individuals. It can manifest in various forms, such as assumptions about competence, limitations, or societal value based solely on age" As I was approaching the milestone of turning 50, an unexpected guest arrived uninvited – ageism. It wasn't a subtle whisper but a loud bugle that echoed doubts and fears about losing relevance, falling behind in the digital race, and facing stagnation. These weren't just my thoughts; they were shared by many women navigating similar paths. Ageism, particularly for women, is a pervasive issue that often goes unnoticed. The fear of being judged for our age, not fitting into the digital mold, or being labeled as 'past our prime' can be paralyzing. It's a narrative that society subtly weaves, nudging us to believe that our worth diminishes as the years add up. But here's the truth: age is not a barrier; it's a badge of honor. It's a testament to the experiences, wisdom, and resilience we've accumulated over the years. Ageism thrives on stereotypes and misconceptions, painting a narrow picture of what it means to be 'relevant' or 'successful' in today's world. We must challenge these notions and rewrite the script. Age should not limit our potential or define our capabilities. Instead, it should be a catalyst for growth, a springboard for new adventures and accomplishments. It's time to break free from the chains of ageism and embrace our journey wholeheartedly. We need to celebrate our achievements, leverage our skills, and show the world that age is not a liability but an asset. Digital progression? We can learn and adapt, mastering new technologies with the same vigor as any digital native. Stagnation? It's a myth; every day is an opportunity to learn, grow, and evolve. Losing relevance? No way – we define what's relevant by staying true to ourselves, our passions, and our contributions. Let's flip the narrative on ageism. Let's empower each other, uplift fellow women, and create a culture where age is celebrated, not feared. Together, we can shatter stereotypes, defy expectations, and pave the way for a future where age is just a number, not a limitation. So, to all the women out there facing ageism's grip – stand tall, embrace your journey, and let your age be a beacon of strength and resilience. The best is yet to come, no matter how many candles adorn your birthday cake. Age is just a chapter; let's make it the most empowering one yet. Your SecondAct is waiting to embrace you ! How are you combating ageism? Your inputs will help those who are struggling with it. Please share your thoughts. #BreakingAgeism #secondact