Re-think Retirement - a Next-Up Podcast

From corporate career to an empowered unretirement and personal fulfilment - Elton Mouna shares his story and advice on embracing change fearlessly.

In this episode, Victoria and Trevor are joined by Elton Mouna; former hospitality MD who has run three pubs; has been Head of Retail Marketing and Head of PR and Corporate Communications at Fuller's and the MD of London Pub Co Remarkable Pubs.

Metaphorically speaking, Elton has walked the hospitality industry walk and this has given him the knowledge and experience to talk the hospitality industry talk. He now has what he calls a wobby for a living (that's a work and hobby combo)! Elton talks about, writes about, broadcasts about and podcasts about the hospitality sector.

In this episode of the Rethink Retirement podcast, Elton explains how you can benefit from your years of hard work in 'unretirement', by getting out there and using your contacts. He redefines the perspective that most people have on how to network. 

"Work hard to get yourself noticed by people because they will then promote you" he says. He also shares his thoughts on striving for happiness. 

The next big demographic shift is on the horizon says Avivah Wittenberg-Cox.

Victoria Tomlinson is joined by Avivah Wittenberg Cox in this latest podcast episode, as they discuss the future of retirement, the value of intergenerational collaboration, and the business case for embracing the aging workforce.

Avivah is a thought leader renowned for her expertise in gender and generational balance. With over 20 years of consulting, coaching, and writing on these topics, she brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to the conversation.

“We need good, educated talent and a lot of that is over 50 and nearing what was traditionally retirement. Using the word retirement is staying in an old paradigm – which is that we had this 3-stage life of education, then work, then retirement. This model is obsolete and no longer entirely relevant. Now it’s about the 4-quarter life, and different ages and different stages require different things.”

Why should corporates, professional firms and public sector organisations care about how people retire? Listen now to find out and prepare to reshape your perspective on retirement and the potential of an age-diverse workforce.

From BBC Radio Producer to Teaching Fellow: A Career Shift Story with Layla Painter

Podcast Description: In this episode, we speak with Layla Painter, a former BBC Radio producer who made the decision to take voluntary redundancy and transition into teaching media students at university level.

Layla shares her journey of discovering new opportunities and utilizing her skills in a different way. She talks about the challenges and rewards of switching careers and offers advice for those looking to make a similar transition.

Join us as we dive into Layla's inspiring story of taking a leap of faith and finding a fulfilling career path.

Have you ever felt like your job wasn’t fulfilling enough? Neelie Verlinden did, and she decided to take action

During a career in investment banking Neelie Verlinden was more and more thinking “Is this really what I want to do for the rest of my life?” It wasn’t so she resigned and started her search for the perfect work/life balance.

The future of work is constantly evolving, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer to how it will look like. However, some trends are becoming increasingly evident. For example, there is a growing emphasis on remote work and flexible work arrangements, as well as a shift towards more meaningful work.

The concept of ikigai, a Japanese way of life that translates to "a reason for being," is becoming more popular as people seek greater meaning and purpose in their lives. The idea is to find a sweet spot where what you're good at, what you enjoy doing, what you can get paid for, and what society needs all intersect. This can lead to a fulfilling career that feels less like work and more like a calling.

The traditional notion of retirement is also being challenged. Instead of retiring, more people are choosing to stay active and engaged in their work and communities, even as they age. This can lead to a more fulfilling and purposeful life, as well as greater financial stability.

Ultimately, the future of work is likely to be more flexible, more meaningful, and more focused on personal fulfillment and purpose. By finding your ikigai and staying engaged throughout your life, you can create a career that is both fulfilling and financially rewarding.

Accenture partner Matthew Edwards doing volunteer work while still maintaining his full-time job – unusual for professional partners – enabling him to help nurses in Kenya by designing a training app

In this podcast episode, we speak with Matthew Edwards, a former partner at Accenture who found fulfilment in doing volunteer work while still maintaining his full-time job. Matthew shares how his employer supported him in his early forties to start doing projects in the voluntary sector, like working with nurses in Kenya by designing a training app, and how he continued to pursue this passion on the side of his full-time job.

Matthew also discusses the importance of asking within the organization if there are other ways to do work that are outside of the norm, and how employers can inspire their alumni to volunteer. He shares his unique journey of taking a pay cut to work in the corporate social responsibility function within his company for the last three years of his career at Accenture, and how he now helps start-ups and created a walking and cycling path App to help people explore the battlefields of the First World War.

If you're looking for inspiration on how to use your skills and experience to make a positive impact on society and create a fulfilling and meaningful career in the voluntary sector, then this podcast episode is for you. Join us as we explore the journey of Matthew Edwards and learn how you too can find fulfilment in volunteering.

Finding purpose after losing your dream job

In this episode, we speak with Christina Patterson, a former columnist for The Independent who faced a difficult crossroads when she was made redundant from her dream job. Christina shares her story of grappling with fear, rejection, and failure, and how she ultimately found balance and fulfillment in her life. We discuss the importance of purpose and meaning in life, and how to find joy in unexpected places. Christina also offers practical advice for approaching work and life with resilience and determination. Join us for an inspiring conversation about the power of perseverance and discovering purpose after loss.

 

Christina Patterson - writer, broadcaster, coach, consultant

New book - Outside, the sky is blue - A family memoir

https://christinapatterson.co.uk/

 

‘I felt spat out’ says, Eleanor Mills when made redundant from the Sunday Times. But it opened new doors – and happiness

When Eleanor Mills left the Sunday Times she’d worked for for 23 years, she felt like she’d been pushed off a roof. Who was she without the big job that had given her a cloak of power? It was only when someone said “Change is difficult, but you’ll be alright” that she started to relax.  She says, “It’s like the tide going out, sometimes there will be a big wave which knocks you over but the general direction will be better.” This gave her permission to find it tough. To endure. It was such a relief. After a lot of thinking and talking she decided to be the change she wanted to see in the world. Noon was born out of her desire to help women find a new path through midlife and beyond, to change the narrative. 

Midlife is when those dreams we had when we were young – but put aside to earn a living or raise a family – can finally be revisited. It’s never too late to be what you wanted to be.

Eleanor Mills is an award-winning editor, writer and broadcaster. She worked for The Sunday Times for 23 years as Editorial Director, Editor of The Sunday Times Magazine, and as a columnist and interviewer (interrogating everyone from Mikhail Gorbachev to Sheryl Sandberg and Theresa May). As Chair of Women in Journalism (2014 – 2021) she argued that the media must be a true mirror, not a distorting lens, which is what happens if decision makers are not diverse. She is a trustee of the Society of Editors, a board member of Reporters Sans Frontiers and her publications include Cupcakes and Kalashnikovs: 100 Years of the Best Journalism by Women, published by Hachette. She is working on her first novel and lives in London with her husband and two teenage daughters.

www.noon.org.uk

Strap in for the roller coaster career and life of Ande Lyons, particularly after she reached 50!

Strap in for the roller coaster career and life of Ande Lyons! Ande is the epitome of tenacity, a life-long entrepreneur, learner and problem solver. Here we discover more about Ande’s career path, in particular after turning 50+. How she learnt to create an online presence and the importance of being visible at all stages in life. With 200+ episodes of her livestream show under her belt, what could possibly be next on Ande’s radar?

A holiday led corporate sales director Michelle to early unretirement

Michelle was prompted to make a life changing decision at the peak of her corporate career - albeit unintentionally. Join us as she talks about her story, 5 years into this new journey.

Michelle weathered through Covid by involving herself with a charity for the elderly in her community; only to come through the other side as one of the youngest trustees on the board!

Still only in her early fifties, Michelle believes in life-long learning and doesn't see herself retiring.

Michelle acknowledges she is highly motivated and unafraid of change, which has helped her navigate her own path, fuelled by a desire to be driven by her values and priorities.

 

AI, data privacy and cyber security – Lord Tim Clement-Jones brings experience to these debates

Former lawyer Lord Tim Clement Jones now chairs big tech debates in House of Lords; chairs a university Council and is active on autism and cancer issues. In his 70s, he believes unretirement is a mix of strategy and opportunities.

“You have to stay involved across generations. It’s what keeps you young and with a lively interest – it prevents you becoming mouldy in retirement!”