Midlife is Your Power Move
It was early November, two weeks after a positive performance review, my boss walks into my office, sits down, gives me an apologetic smile, and promptly tells me the company is going through a merger and I am out of a job. That’s it. Game over.
So after over 25 years rising through the ranks and becoming a successful Chief Marketing Officer, I’m back on the market. I think, OK, these things happen. No problem. I’m smart. I’m talented. I’m resourceful. I’ve always landed top roles easily. No big deal, right? I’ve got this.
And then I started applying for jobs. I curated my target companies, I tailored my resume, I plugged into my network, I did all the things. And then… Crickets….., no response, no interviews, no callbacks, nothing. And I can’t figure out what’s wrong. Why is this happening?
The hidden barrier: workplace ageism
It took me months to realize that this thing that was keeping me from finding my next role, it’s called ageism. Today, based on a study by McKinsey, a woman over 45 is more likely to find a four-leaf clover than she is to land a senior leadership position.
So, the expert advice I received? “Hide your first ten years of experience. Post about AI to sound relevant. And make sure your profile picture looks energetic.”
Really? In my fifties, when I feel I am at my peak potency, I need to hide who I am? The irony was crushing. At the exact moment when I have the most value to offer, society tells me to downplay my greatest assets?
I don’t think so.
The wisdom advantage
At 50-plus, we bring something unprecedented to the table: decades of experience, battle-tested wisdom, and the confidence to know what works. We’re exactly who and what companies and communities need right now.
The longevity revolution
A hundred years ago, the life expectancy of a woman in the United States was just over 60 years. Today? It’s 86 and rapidly climbing toward 100. Think about that for a moment. We’re not just living longer. We’re living healthier, more vibrant lives. This isn’t just a statistic; it’s a revolution in how we should view our future.
Birth of the Third30™ movement
This realization led me to create Third30™. The name comes from a simple but powerful idea: these next thirty years aren’t an afterthought. They’re the chapter where everything comes together. Where wisdom meets opportunity. Where experience meets purpose.
Redefining midlife success
Third30™ is a movement that empowers women to realize that midlife is not a slow, steady decline. It is a reaffirmation of all the glorious gifts you’ve been given over the decades, and reframing them to define success on your terms.
But here’s the stark reality: while we’ve gained these extra decades of life, society’s script has failed to catch up.
The corporate contradiction
Mind if I go on a bit of a rant here?
Let me put this in perspective: Just when we’ve mastered the art of driving results while building genuine relationships… Just when we’ve learned to cut through office politics and focus on what truly matters… Just when we’ve developed the confidence to speak truth to power… That’s when society suggests we should step aside?
The business case for experience
The absurdity is stunning! We’re sidelining women at precisely the moment they become corporate gold. This isn’t just a loss for women; it’s a massive loss for businesses, for innovation, and for society as a whole.
Seizing your Third30™ moment
So how do we seize this moment? How can women in their 50s redefine success and live their values? Here are three pathways that are transforming how women thrive in their Third30™.
1. Reimagine your current role
And let me be clear: I’m not talking about tweaking your LinkedIn profile. I’m talking about bold, unapologetic reinvention. Take my colleague Cory, a total marketing rockstar with over 20 years of experience. Instead of apologizing for that experience, she doubled down on it. She began posting her marketing insights on social media and attracted a huge following. Now? She’s speaking at conferences where she used to sit in the back row.
Ladies, stop hiding your brilliance in the background! Your experience isn’t a liability. It’s your superpower. The difference between women who thrive in their Third30™ and those who struggle? They’ve stopped asking for permission and started leading with the authority they’ve earned.
2. Embrace fractional leadership
This wasn’t even a thing ten years ago. Now, it’s a complete game-changer. Companies are DESPERATE for experienced pros who can step in as fractional CMOs, CFOs, or strategic advisors. One member of Third30™, Carol is crushing it right now as a fractional Chief Operating Officer for three growing tech startups. She’s making more than she did at her previous full-time job, and working fewer hours.
Let that sink in. More money, less time. This isn’t a step-down, people. It’s a leap into freedom. You get to leverage your expertise on YOUR terms. All that wisdom you’ve accumulated over decades? That’s exactly what these growing companies are hungry for. They need YOU.
3. Consider entrepreneurship
And honestly, this is my absolute favorite. Forbes tells us women over 50 are now one of the fastest-growing groups of entrepreneurs. And is anyone really surprised?
Take my friend Loren. She spent years grinding away as an executive recruiter. Eventually, she got completely fed up with the dog-eat-dog culture. So what did she do? She quit. Now she’s the founder of a thriving company helping executives find their dream jobs. And here’s the kicker. Her age and experience weren’t barriers, they were her strongest selling point.
Your moment of rebirth
Beyond the workplace: a holistic revolution
But here’s what I really want you to understand: this isn’t just about work. This is about refusing to accept an outdated narrative that tells us our best years are behind us. Instead, this is our moment of rebirth, one where we live large with connection, courage, and joy.
Claiming your power years
With Third30™, I envision a world where women claim midlife saying this is my time. I have earned this experience and these wrinkles. I am going to embrace my purpose, my passion, and my joy because that’s what I deserve!
The mindset shift
The only thing standing between you and your reinvention is your mindset. Not age. Not experience. Not market conditions. This is about a profound transformation in how we choose to see ourselves and what we believe is possible.
Decades of potential ahead
Every woman has decades of potential ahead. Decades to reinvent, to lead, to thrive. Your Third30™ isn’t about winding down. It’s about stepping into your full power with the wisdom and clarity that only comes with life experience.
Your best chapter begins now
So I’ll leave you with this question: What if your most fulfilling chapter isn’t behind you, but just beginning, right here, right now?
The world needs your wisdom
The world needs your wisdom, your courage, and your leadership now more than ever. It’s time we rewrote the story of what women can achieve in midlife and beyond.
The call to action
Your Third30™ is calling. How will you answer?