Being on the Forbes 50 over 50 List

A friend sent a congratulations. I did not know what she was talking about until she shared the list. Being on the Forbes 50 over 50 Investment was a delight but I didn't fully appreciate it until the weekend when I was with my daughter and we investigated.

I have been on lists before like 40 over 40 when I was well into my 50s, and I have been the subject matter of chapters in several books to inspire women and men. But this was different. It hit home because this is so necessary for women of all ages to see the reality of women over 50. With life expectancy extending into the 100s in good health, why on earth should we hit a ceiling or be closed out prematurely? That would be an incredible loss of talent, brain power, wisdom and contributions not to mention the stagnation and loss of esteem for women themselves. While age discrimination is a thing for both women and men, it is up to us to take control of the narrative, take action and prove exactly what is being achieved by women into their 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond.

Bravo to Mika Brzezinski?who herself is a wildly capable woman over 50 who undoubtedly is someone to watch into her 60s, 70s and beyond. I love her instagram where she shares photos with her sculptor mom and where her love spills off the pages. Mika is known for Know Your Worth and teamed up with Forbes to create and promote the 50 over 50 list. It turns out over 10,000 names were submitted for consideration which just goes to show that women over 50 are a force and yield both influence and power even as they often go unrecognized.

Here is the criteria to make the 50 over 50 list in any category: to have achieved more success in your 50s than at any other time in your career (so no falling back on what you did in your 30s or 40s) and actively now paying it forward to women.

My focus and energy has been spent in the last 10 years on Plum Alley with the purpose to give women more resources and prominence in their businesses. We helped well over 1000 women founders increase sales or test market products and raise some early money. In the last 5 years, we have invested $50 million in women entrepreneurs and women in the STEM fields that are bringing advanced technologies and medical breakthroughs forward to address many of our world's biggest challenges. Many of those women are near or over 50, have PhDs or industry won awards, discoveries that will change whole industries and a global impact.

One thing I have learned in the last five years is that venture investing is dominated by guess whom? answer: white, younger (like about 30yrs old) men and most founders that are venture funded are white, younger men. That does not represent all that is happening out in the real world of entrepreneurship and venture. Fortunately, Plum Alley exists to give investors--women and men at all ages the way to invest in the preeminent founders of all ages and those who have brilliant expertise and experience that sets them up for real breakthroughs and success.

I am honored to be on the 50 over 50 list-Investments and wish that it will encourage women to evolve, thrive and give at age 50 and beyond because it is within your power and reach. There aren't many role models, or guideposts to navigate your career (or life) over 50 so we have to dig deep and find our path based on our own instincts and motivation. The fun part is that we can write our own rules and find meaning and joy in new pursuits. There is no play book for a meaningful, stimulating and lucrative life after 50. But when you think of all your hard earned experience in all facets of your life, why not put it to use for you and others? While finding the right pursuits may not be the easiest thing to do, I venture to say given what I know about my own life and the lives of other women, it certainly won't be hardest thing we have ever done!