Does being over 40 really mean it has to be all downhill from here? Reframing the conversation was at the centre of an International Women’s Day event hosted by Fiona Wylie of Brand Champions, which brought together entrepreneurs, leaders and changemakers to challenge outdated assumptions about age, opportunity and women in the workplace.
Brand Champions recently conducted their own survey and 80% of women said they have made a significant career change after turning 40. Over half of the women surveyed have already started their own business or freelance career after 40. And nearly 9 in 10 have at least considered it.
The event focused on celebrating women who are in their second act of life, whether they are menopausal, navigating motherhood or are starting their own business after working for someone else for their whole lives, or even taking on a new challenge in the corporate world.
Among the speakers was Joanna Jensen, founder of Childs Farm, who shared reflections on motherhood, entrepreneurship, resilience and self-belief. “Parenthood teaches you a lot about business,” Joanna said. “You’re constantly juggling responsibilities, managing priorities and learning not to be afraid to ask for help.”
During a fireside chat, she also reflected on the mental barriers that often hold women back. “We make too many assumptions, and in doing so we build small prisons around ourselves.
“We create barriers around age that don’t really exist. Women over 40 understand consumers better than anyone – yet despite driving around 75% of consumer spending, they are rarely the ones shaping the products and businesses we see.”
There was a keynote from Amy Harris Head of Brand and Corporate Partnerships at The Hygiene Bank, along with a donation box for attendees to add contributions to help tackle hygiene poverty, and support individuals and families in need.
Brand Champions was founded by Fiona Wylie, who after returning to her marketing role after maternity leave found that her job no longer offered her the flexibility that she now needed. She built Brand Champions with flexibility at its core. Fiona said: “Choose growth over comfort and dare to begin again. The second act isn’t about starting from scratch, but building from experience. Take the wins, the setbacks and the pauses, and use them as fuel.”
