From Overlooked to Unstoppable

"Reigniting my purpose meant turning age into an advantage."

Susan, 62, Retiring Nonprofit Director

How Susan Rewrote Her Retirement at 62"

After 30 years as a Nonprofit Director, Susan approached retirement with mixed emotions. She feared losing her sense of purpose in a society that often undervalues older women, facing age discrimination during initial job searches for consulting roles—employers assumed her skills were outdated despite her rich experience. As a woman, she encountered stereotypes that her leadership wouldn't translate to new ventures, leaving her isolated from potential collaborators. With her savings stretched thin after years of modest nonprofit pay, Susan worried about financial stability and struggled to envision a meaningful encore career. The uncertainty weighed heavily, and she felt her legacy slipping away.

Journey with Architecting Collaboration
Susan joined the "Reignite" retreat with little hope, viewing it as a last resort after failed job searches. She arrived skeptical, expecting a feel-good session that couldn't address her complex challenges, and bristled at the idea of drawing her problems—something she hadn't done since childhood. The Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) process began with a reflection on her legacy, which felt overwhelming, but the real shift came with the SSM rich pictures. Reluctantly, she sketched her current world: herself at a crossroads, one path fading into obscurity labeled "age bias" and "stereotypes," the other dimly lit with question marks (her uncertain future). She added isolated figures representing her shrinking network and a cracked foundation symbolizing her financial fears.

What happened next surprised her. As the facilitator guided her through the rich picture, Susan saw her system differently—she hadn't expected the visual to reveal how ageism and self-doubt had disconnected her from her strengths. The cracked foundation, she realized, wasn't just financial but also emotional, built on decades of undervalued work. This insight hit hard; she felt a lump in her throat, then a surge of resolve. The facilitator encouraged her to redraw the picture, and Susan added vibrant lines connecting her to former colleagues and community partners, transforming the crossroads into a bridge to a new path. This unexpected reframing turned her fear into a plan, a moment she later called "a quiet revolution."

With this clarity, Susan used stakeholder mapping to reconnect with former nonprofit allies and identify organizations needing her expertise. The retreat included an impromptu mentoring session with younger leaders, which she hadn't anticipated enjoying—her advice on community impact resonated deeply, boosting her confidence. Architecting Collaboration helped her pitch her experience as a unique asset, countering ageist assumptions, and designed a part-time consulting model to ensure financial flexibility. The rich picture became her roadmap, guiding her to build inclusive partnerships that blended her wisdom with fresh ideas.

Outcome
Within a year, Susan launched a part-time consulting practice, securing three nonprofit clients who valued her strategic insight. Her work revitalized community programs, and she mentored a new generation of leaders, earning a community leadership award. The retreat's unexpected impact lingered—Susan kept her evolved, rich picture framed in her office, a testament to how reframing her world unlocked a fulfilling retirement. Her story inspired other retirees to pursue encore careers, proving age could be an advantage.

About SSM

Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is a powerful approach that uses visual tools like rich pictures to map complex relationships and uncover hidden dynamics. It helps leaders, like Priya, reframe challenges and design inclusive solutions tailored to their unique contexts.

About the Author

Paul Nunesdea is the English pen name of Paulo Nunes de Abreu, an IAF Certified™ Facilitator, Master of Ceremonies, author, and publisher of the Architecting Collaboration book series. He designs and facilitates high-impact events for corporations, public institutions, and civic organisations across Europe and beyond.

As the curator of Architecting Collaboration, Paul writes about the intersection of collaboration, facilitation, and digital transformation, drawing from decades of practical experience and system thinking. He is also the co-founder of Debate Exímio, which serves as a hub for innovation in meeting design and participatory processes.

In the health data space, Paul leads the Health Data Forum, a UK-registered charity advancing ethical AI adoption and digital health transformation. He spearheads the Data First, AI Later movement and manages a curated network of independent consultants specialising in health data governance and AI strategy.