The world is brimming with senior talent, individuals who have dedicated decades to building businesses, mentoring others, and uplifting their communities. Photo: File.
Johanna Macis says the outdated belief that older workers are somehow unable to cope with the 21st-century workplace is robbing organisations of the profound knowledge and stability that experience brings.
We live at a time when the workplace is in almost constant transition, yet it’s surprising how some outdated beliefs continue to hold ground.
One of the most enduring is that age is a barrier to professional growth — yet age does not diminish value, it amplifies it.
Every passing year adds a new layer of insight. Each grey hair tells a story of perseverance, every wrinkle is a mark of resilience and laughter, and each experience reflects another page in a rich, unfolding journey.
As we age, we don’t merely collect degrees or job titles, we gather wisdom — the kind that can’t be taught in a classroom.
It’s earned through real decisions, tough moments, long nights, and courageous restarts. It’s the ability to discern what truly matters and the grace to let go of what doesn’t.
This clarity often brings a deeper kind of happiness — the kind that comes not from chasing, but from understanding.
The world is brimming with senior talent, individuals who have dedicated decades to building businesses, mentoring others, and uplifting their communities.
Yet many of them face closed doors in the workplace solely because of the number attached to their age. This isn’t only unjust, it’s a loss for us all.
Progress cannot thrive when we ignore the profound knowledge and stability that experience brings.
Modern organisations must embrace the opportunity of having four generations work side-by-side. This isn’t a challenge — it’s an evolution.
The vibrancy and innovation of youth can harmonise with the depth and strategy of experience. Together they can forge workplaces that are not only more inclusive, but also more powerful, adaptable, and wise.
Let’s finally dismantle another outdated myth: that older adults can’t keep up with technology.
Passion, curiosity, and drive don’t retire. If someone has a thirst for learning, they will continue to evolve — at 30, at 60, or even at 90. The true engine of growth isn’t age, it’s mindset.
As Picasso so wisely said: “It takes a long time to become young.”
True youth isn’t measured in years, but in spirit, in the soul’s curiosity, the mind’s openness, and the heart’s hunger to keep growing.
Let’s never forget that the moment we stop learning is the moment we begin to wither. Let’s measure people by their talent, their purpose, and their passion, not by a birth year on a piece of paper.
Let’s challenge the surface and see the soul. Let’s make room for every person’s potential to shine, no matter the season of life they’re in.
Because age is not a limit, it’s a legacy. A living archive of strength, wisdom, and human richness. That deserves not just acceptance, but reverence.
Johanna Macis is a certified career coach and learning adviser specialising in guiding senior executives and mid-career professionals through career transitions, particularly in the technology industry.
