Reinvention After 60—and Why You’re Never Too Old to Flip the Script

Once upon a time, girls were told to dream about glass slippers, white horses, and a happily ever after delivered by a guy with great hair and a crown. The good life, we were taught, came after you were chosen by a prince.

But let’s be real: tiaras are itchy, and waiting around is exhausting.

Somewhere along the way, many of us wake up and think, Wait. This can’t be it.

Maybe you’ve followed all the rules. Supported someone else’s dream. Pressed pause on your own career. Sacrificed. Showed up. Smiled. But now you’re wondering if it’s too late to try something bold, or new, or wildly different.

It’s not.

Act One: Swapping Spreadsheets for Storytelling

There was a time when I thought I’d follow in my mother’s footsteps—homemaking, casseroles, and cheerleading from the sidelines. But life had other ideas.

Early on, I earned an MBA and CPA and built a solid career in corporate finance. But when my kids came along, I took an eight-year pause to raise them. And while the stay-at-home chapter was meaningful, re-entering the full-time workforce was like trying to rejoin a game that had rewritten the rules while I was on the bench.

Sound familiar?

What changed everything for me wasn’t a job listing. It was a tennis court.

Volunteering for a local program (because moms do everything, right?) led me to a group of Russian exchange players and coaches—and, eventually, to Red Square, where we weren’t just exchanging volleys, we were brainstorming business ideas. And suddenly, marketing came into view.

It wasn’t just crunching numbers like before. It was storytelling. Creativity. Energy. Something lit up.

That spark led me to pivot—big time. I leaned into the relationships I built on the court, learned everything I could, and climbed my way up to become a VP of Marketing for multiple Fortune 500 companies.

Not bad for someone who once thought PTA leadership was the pinnacle.

Act Two: Professors, Plot Twists, and Permission Slips

While some of my peers were easing into early retirement, I enrolled in a doctoral program at 60.

Not because I had to. Because I wanted to.

Earning that doctorate gave me a new title: Professor. I now teach marketing at two large universities, sharing lessons from the boardroom and the real world with the next generation of changemakers.

But the biggest twist? I became an author.

My memoir, Forget the Fairy Tale and Find Your Happiness, encourages readers to embrace a happy ending that might not look like one they expected.

So… What About You?

Maybe you’re 45 or 55 or 65 and thinking it’s too late to start again. Or you’ve been playing a role that no longer fits, and you’re quietly craving a rewrite.

Here’s what helped me—and what might help you too:

1. Follow your fun.
   Joy leaves clues. That tennis gig? It changed my entire career. When something energizes you—lean in. You don’t need the five-year plan. Just the first brave step.
2. Let your relationships do the heavy lifting.
   Transformation isn’t a solo sport. Talk to people. Say yes to conversations. Be generous with your time and curious with theirs. The next door might be opened by someone you already know.
3. Nothing you’ve done is wasted.
   Every job, every sabbatical, every carpool line—it all adds up. Your experience is your superpower. Even the messy stuff. Especially the messy stuff.
4. Tear up the timeline.
   There’s no rule that says you have to “make it” by 30, or 40, or ever. Reinvention doesn’t come with an age cap. Some of my best ideas didn’t show up until recently.
5. Forget feeling ready. Just start.
   Confidence doesn’t send a calendar invite. It arrives when you do the thing anyway. Action builds belief.

The Last Act? Not Even Close.

Every princess tale ends at the wedding. My story? It just kept going.

From finance to faculty. From mom life to memoir. From supporting roles to center stage.

You don’t need a permission slip to reinvent yourself—but if you’re looking for one, here it is:

Go for it.
It’s not too late.
The next version of you is waiting—and she’s going to be amazing.