We're Still Cracking that Glass Ceiling

Mature women have more choices now than ever. We spent our youth forging ahead despite the gender limits we faced. Women revolutionaries in the late 60s and early 70s invaded and changed the face of the American workplace.

Now, with master’s degrees and PhDs we move into positions of authority, with power and visibility. At an age when past generations would settle into retirement, this recent revolution defines a new way to explore opportunities.

Women over 60 are now our heads of state and CEOs.

• Governor Kay Ivey, the 54th Governor of Alabama
• Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM
• Janet Yellen, 15th Chair of the Federal Reserve

A mature woman in a position of leadership seems natural. The intrinsic moral authority and a sense of warmth combine to establish a willingness to accept older women in positions of leadership.
We find it easier to hold our own with men of all ages. Easier than we did when we were younger, and easier than younger women do even now. Ambition in older women generates a comfortable work atmosphere for both genders.

What does this mean for women who are not in politics or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company?

As we mature, it is natural that we reevaluate our life choices. We look back. We look forward. And we decide what happens in our lives from here on.

Just as our lives to date were different from those that came before us our future will be as well. Whether you are looking to retire, take up a new career, or continue as long as you are happy don’t measure your expectations by the past. This is an important time in your life to plan and determine what do you expect going forward.

Decide to retire. Travel. Spend time with the grandchildren. Put your feet up. But remember, we are the generation of women who changed the face of the nation. And for many of us, we’re not through yet!