Latest news with #reinvention
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Reinvent Or Fall Behind: 5 Hard Truths From The Frontlines Of Business
Reinvent or Fall Behind: 5 Hard Truths from the Frontlines of Business This April, leaders from 38 countries and countless industries gathered in Dublin for the Reinvention Summit 2025. As one of the co-founders of the Summit—alongside Aidan McCullen, Michael Durkan, and Neil Jordan—I had a front-row seat to the most urgent questions in business today: - Why are our old tools no longer working? - What does a successful leader look like in this age of permanent disruption? - And how do we actually prepare for a future we can't predict? The answers were loud and clear. Here are five hard truths that emerged from the keynotes, panels, and off-the-record conversations at the Summit—insights every professional needs to hear right now. The data is alarming. The 2024 research from the Reinvention Academy, which I shared at the Summit, shows that the average lifecycle of a business model has dropped from 75 years to just 6. Every fifth company in the world is reinventing their products, processes, and business model every 12 months or faster, which means the shelf life of an idea, decision, or product is getting very, very short. Rita McGrath—Columbia Business School professor and bestselling author—delivered a powerful keynote that echoed the ideas she first introduced in her groundbreaking Harvard Business Review article, 'Transient Advantage.' A new approach to management is needed, where we are not betting on one 'silver bullet,' spending years to perfect it. As Alexander Osterwalder, creator of the Business Model Canvas, reminded us in his keynote: If your organization is placing all its bets on a single idea—or failing to retire outdated ones—you're not adapting. You're aging. Most companies divide responsibility for the future among siloed teams: strategy, innovation, and change management. But in today's environment, these functions are interdependent. Misalignment isn't just inefficient—it's lethal. That's why a new leadership role is gaining traction: the Chief Reinvention Officer. This emerging role brings together what used to be fragmented and conflicting parts of the organization into a single, integrated reinvention process. Instead of handing off initiatives from one silo to another, the Chief Reinvention Officer - a leader who can integrate strategy, innovation, and implementation into one cohesive, end-to-end reinvention system. Gary Graham, Chief Reinvention Officer at 3i's Group and the Keynote Listener at the Summit, put it best: 'When most leaders think of reinvention, they think of strategy, technology, or AI. But the real secret? It's about trust.' He referenced McKinsey research that shows leaders often overestimate employee buy-in by a factor of three. People resist change not because they don't care—but because they fear becoming irrelevant. Change fatigue is very real—and growing. In a world where disruption is constant, reinvention must be continuous—and coordinated. Every company grows along an S curve: from start-up and early traction to scale and maturity. But without reinvention, the final stage is decline. In earlier eras, that curve might have lasted decades. But as Aidan McCullen, co-founder of the Summit and author of 'Undisruptable,' explained in his keynote, today's curves are getting shorter and steeper, leaving little room for reaction. The wisdom of jumping the S-curve at the right time is not limited to companies. As Marina Donohoe, Head of Research, Innovation & Infrastructure at Enterprise Ireland, reminded us during the 'Reinventing Ireland' panel, countries must make that crucial choice as well: Ireland, long celebrated for its economic strength through foreign direct investment and global entrepreneurship, now faces a new wave of challenges—from shifting global tax rules and climate change to talent shortages and AI-driven disruption. The question on the table was bold:Can an entire nation become a model for reinvention? Just like companies and careers, countries ride the S-Curve. And just like them, if they don't reinvent, they decline. That's why reinvention isn't a one-time event. It's an operating system—one that must be embedded across every function, every quarter, every decision. When people talk about reinvention, they often focus on what needs to be improved, updated, or removed. But that's just one side of the equation. In this keynote, Charles Conn, Chairman of Patagonia, reminded us of the other side, of what must be preserved: the purpose. Purpose isn't just a slogan. It's an operating anchor. A source of resilience. In times of turbulence, it's easy to become reactive—shifting strategies, chasing trends, abandoning the core. But true reinvention is not about changing everything. It's about knowing what to protect at all costs. In the chaos of reinvention, purpose can become the eye of the storm. It reminds people why they're there. It aligns teams when strategies shift. And it gives companies the courage to choose long-term integrity over short-term gain. Finally—and perhaps most importantly—reinvention isn't something you do alone. The command-and-control model of leadership was designed for stability. But today's leaders are managing through perma-crisis. Instead of top-down control, we need swarming leadership—cross-functional, cross-generational teams that tackle problems quickly and collaboratively, then disperse. These swarms are faster, more adaptive, and more resilient. At the Summit, we heard over and over again that what leaders need most right now isn't another playbook or case study. It's a community. A place to learn from others facing similar challenges. A space to prototype new solutions. A network to lean on when things get tough. Patrick Gormley, Global Lead for AI and Data Science Consulting at Kyndryl, put it simply: This applies to both your employees and your customers. Seth Godin, my personal marketing obsession and bestselling author, captured this new approach with his call to focus on the Minimum Viable Audience: In today's environment, the winners won't be the smartest or fastest. They'll be the ones who stay in motion—and do it together. We're not in a period of temporary turbulence. We're in a new normal. Uncertainty is not a phase—it's the permanent context of our work. In this reality, reinvention is no longer a luxury for the bold—it's the operating system of modern business. If you haven't rethought your strategy, your team structure, or your leadership approach recently—you're probably already falling behind. But the good news? You're not alone. Across industries and continents, leaders are finding new ways to build, adapt, and thrive. The tools, the models, and the community are already here. The future doesn't belong to the biggest or the fastest. It belongs to the most reinventable.
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Roxy Jacenko recalls embarrassing moment she was caught kissing her ex-boyfriend Nabil Gazal while her husband Oliver Curtis was in prison: 'It was a hard time'
PR queen Roxy Jacenko has opened up about the cringeworthy moment in 2017 when she was caught on camera kissing her ex while her husband Oliver Curtis was serving prison time for insider trading. The photos showed the 45-year-old embracing her former boyfriend, millionaire property developer Nabil Gazal, at a post dinner party at his luxury apartment. Describing the embarrassing moment as 'stupid', Roxy said the incident led her to a personal 'reinvention'. 'I look back now, it was a hard time,' Roxy said in an interview with Sydney Confidential on Sunday. 'Oli was obviously going through what went on with him legally. I had cancer. And I did something really stupid and I will never forget it. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop 'But at the end of the day, what I think the important thing is … is how you reinvigorate and reinvent yourself after that. I mean, I am the queen of reinvention really. 'No matter how hard it gets, I get myself up and I keep going.' Elsewhere in the chat, Roxy put down rumours that she has split from her husband after 13 years of marriage. 'Oli is my best friend,' she said. 'He is a good guy. He is very good with the children. Much better than me. I am not hands on, he is very hands on. 'We have been through the lowest lows, there is no doubt about it. Does he irritate me beyond comprehension … yes. But at the same time, he is a really good guy.' Speculation that the couple have separated rose after Roxy moved back to Australia from Curtis' home-base in Singapore at the end of 2024. Roxy is believed to be spending one week a month in Sydney. Her notorious kiss in 2017 with her ex left the spin queen with a raft of embarrassing headlines. According to a photographer who witnessed the moment, Roxy and Nabil were not concerned at hiding any affection. Fellow revellers inside the apartment could be seen looking on as the pair leant in to kiss. Roxy declined to comment on the pictures when contacted by Daily Mail Australia at the time. Nabil has been described as one of Roxy's more 'serious' past boyfriends, and the pair dated until 2010. However, little is known about their relationship prior to the split. Meanwhile, Oliver and Roxy married in 2012, and are parents to daughter Pixie, 13, and son, Hunter, 10.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The beauty secrets of the women in their 50s who look 35. They prove you CAN age backwards without a facelift and all have one simple daily habit in common
Gone are the days when turning 50 meant slowing down. Now it's about reinvention, empowerment and embracing life with confidence. It's not midlife - it's your prime. In fact, 50 is said to be the new 30.
Forbes
18-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Financing Career Changes: What It Really Takes To Move In Midlife
Richard Alderson, CEO As working lives stretch across six decades and the pace of workplace disruption accelerates, career changes are becoming a feature of the new 60-year career. Getting good at these transitions requires knowing how to fund them. The idea of staying in the same job or even the same field for life is fast becoming obsolete. Increasingly, professionals in midlife are yearning—some by choice, others from necessity—for reinvention. But if there's one thing that stops them in their tracks, it is money. Finances are often the silent saboteur of career transitions. A recent UK-based survey by Careershifters and Phoenix Insights reveals just how deep this anxiety runs. Almost everyone (73%) considering a career change worries about the financial impact, resulting in only 8% feeling confident enough to proceed with a move. This is a sobering statistic—and one that urgently needs reframing. Because career change doesn't just happen at the beginning of our working lives anymore. For many, it will increasingly (and repeatedly) occur in our 40s, 50s, and 60s—and we need better financial strategies to support these second, third (or more) acts. Especially as the OECD has proven that actually making a change can boost your career - and your salary. Yet much of the financial anxiety around career change is based on assumptions, not reality. The Dominant Emotion About Career Shifts: Fear As the UK's Careers Can Change campaign highlights, successful career reinvention is more about mindset and planning than miracles or massive windfalls. It takes clarity, support, and sometimes, just enough of a cushion to make the leap feel possible. As Richard Alderson, founder of Careershifters, puts it: 'The biggest barriers we see are not financial, but psychological. It's fear—of the unknown, of instability, of getting it wrong. But it's also a lack of exposure to possibility. You cannot be what you cannot see.' Perception vs. Reality Whether you're dreaming of leaving the corporate grind for a purpose-led path or considering a return to work after caregiving, burnout, or a trip around the world, here are five key lessons from those who've made it happen. Some career changes will cost more than others. Some may come with short-term dips in income, others with unexpected upside. Until you've explored the real numbers—minimum income needed, retraining costs (if any), and timeline to re-entry—you're navigating blind. Replace fear with facts. Successful career changers don't have a magic sponsor or fund, they cobble together support from a range of sources: Most used personal savings, many cut down on regular spending, and a minority leaned on family or partners. Getting The Money To Move There's no one-size-fits-all approach, and you'll likely use more than one strategy. The point is not perfection, but planning. Our money beliefs are shaped early—by parents, culture, class, and gender. These stories can silently sabotage our boldest aspirations. Are you holding back because you were raised to believe work must always be secure? Or that 'starting over' is irresponsible at a certain age? Bring the biases to light and consciousness. Then they can be rewired. Avoiding your budget is a recipe for anxiety. Understand your baseline monthly needs, the gap a career change might create, and how long you can afford that gap. There are a growing number of online resources to help. Careershifters built a free Career Change Budget Calculator complete with a 'How to Finance Your Career Change' quiz (resource links below). Planning boosts both realism and resilience. Talk to people. Trusted friends, family, colleagues. Not for permission, but perspective. As Alderson stresses, 'Career change is a process of innovation. It's messy, iterative, and filled with dead ends. It's not meant to be done in isolation. Do it with others—it accelerates everything.' Real-life stories offer both inspiration and grounding. Take James Moan, a former teacher who transitioned to personal training. He took a 50% pay cut—but the payoff in energy and satisfaction has proven worth it. 'Things were tough in the beginning,' he says, 'but now it's balanced out, and I'm far happier.' Ashley Maready, on the other hand, pivoted from the museum sector into freelance personal finance writing—and saw her income increase. 'If I'd known my life could look like this a few years after switching,' she reflects, 'I would have gotten serious about it much sooner.' Ash Gornall Ash Gornall moved from corporate training into launching a fire solutions business. 'Money was the most stressful part of changing careers,' he admits. 'There's a lot to be said for a steady pay-check. But having savings as a buffer made all the difference.' These stories highlight the wide spectrum of financial outcomes. Career change isn't always a climb—it can be a dip before a rise, or a dip you choose to accept. But with foresight and support, it can be managed rather than feared. The Careers Can Change survey had 1,000 UK-based respondents but found an important gendered dimension to their research: 70% of respondents were women. Women, already more likely to pause careers for caregiving, often face greater financial fears when contemplating a shift. Yet they also lead the way in redefining work on their own terms—especially in midlife. Alderson confirms this imbalance. 'Two-thirds of our audience are women. They're often more open to exploring change, more willing to ask for help. Men are increasingly engaging too, especially when triggered by a life event—illness, redundancy, or bereavement.' This isn't just an issue of personal choice anymore—it's a feature of our ageing societies with their much longer working lives. The size and scope of the need to collectively upskill and reskill labour forces means it also offers a broader opportunity. For financial institutions, employers, and policymakers to recognise that supporting career transitions is an integral part of any longevity strategy. If we're expected to work longer, we'll need the infrastructure—flexibility, retraining, income bridges—to pivot when our interests, industries, or circumstances shift. A half-century ago, we defined work by permanence. Today, we define it by adaptability. Reinvention is the new résumé. The question isn't if you'll change careers, it's when—and how. Midlife shifts may mean temporary instability, but they can unlock long-term alignment. More purpose, more autonomy, sometimes even more income. But only if we stop letting money fears keep us stuck. That's where initiatives like Careers Can Change are invaluable. They offer not just tools and templates, but hope—and honesty. Their financing toolkit includes quizzes, decision trees, and calculators (see below). Not to map the 'perfect path,' but to help each person navigate their own, eyes wide open. In Alderson's words: 'This isn't just about one shift. It's about building the mindset and the transition skills to navigate the many changes we'll face over longer working lives. We call it career innovation. And it's a capability we all need to develop.' In the end, financing your midlife career change isn't just about money. It's about belief—and a plan.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How to Embrace Your True Purpose When You Feel Stuck in Life Roles
At some point in midlife, many women find themselves asking the same quiet question: What's next? Whether prompted by burnout, a layoff or an empty nest, the search for something more fulfilling—more you—can be both liberating and overwhelming. During the Flow Space Women's Health Summit LA on May 14, three powerhouse women gathered to help answer that question. Moderated by SHE Media CEO Samantha Skey, the 'Design a Life You Love' panel featured psychologist and 'optimism doctor' Dr. Deepika Chopra, New York Times best-selling author of Fair Play and Find Your Unicorn Space Eve Rodsky, and THE BOARD founder April Uchitel. Together, they shared hard-earned wisdom about resilience, reinvention and reclaiming creativity—especially when you feel like you've lost it. More from Flow Space 'Sex With Emily' Host Reveals What's Ruining Your Sex Life For Uchitel, the moment of truth came after walking away from a CEO role in the midst of the pandemic. 'I left a CEO role during the pandemic and wasn't sure what my next thing was going to be,' she said. 'So many people were reaching out to me saying, 'I'm out. I moved upstate. I left LA. I got laid off. I'm consulting.'' That wave of women in flux led her to launch THE BOARD, a curated network of women supporting one another's next chapter. 'It was created primarily to resource each other and to share learnings and knowledge and networks,' Uchitel explained. 'I joke that we're the black Amex of LinkedIn, but we're a food co-op at the same time.' Rodsky brought the fire—backed by data and her signature humor—pointing out that creativity doesn't stand a chance without acknowledging the burden of unpaid labor. 'You cannot talk about creativity without understanding unpaid labour,' she said. 'If I had written a book that told you to all have two uninterrupted days a week [to get into a flow state and spark creativity], you should throw me out and stone me.' Her call to action? Put your own name back on your life. Literally. 'We're given the 'mom' necklace the second we get back from the hospital,' she said. 'Start to take off your kids' names from your jewelry, your neck. Put your own initial on as a reminder [for your family] that they should know who you are… You are not just a parent, partner and professional on repeat.' That theme of personal reconnection carried through Chopra's insights, too. Known for her science-backed approach to optimism, she reminded the audience that resilience doesn't require a reinvention of your entire life. Sometimes, it's about taking just 12 seconds to celebrate a win. 'If you can focus on feeling a sense of joy for 12 seconds—that is enough time to rewire your brain,' Chopra said. 'It sounds simple, but all the research shows that we are our most resilient and productive selves, when we are celebrating our wins.' So, if you're in the middle of a career shift, a caregiving stretch or simply trying to remember who you were before the responsibilities stacked up, take this as your reminder: You're allowed to want more. You're allowed to evolve. And you're definitely allowed to take your name back.
