Stewart McTavish & Alison Wood: How Cambridge is Redefining Midlife Learning and Leadership

In Series 10 of the 4-Quarter Lives Podcast, Avivah Wittenberg-Cox continues her exploration of how universities around the world are redesigning themselves for longer lives and careers. In this episode, she talks with Stewart McTavish and Alison Wood from the University of Cambridge about the launch of Better Futures, a new programme supporting leaders in midlife transition.

Together they reflect on why now is the moment for Cambridge to join this global movement and how the university’s distinctive collegiate structure and interdisciplinary depth are shaping its approach. Stewart and Alison describe how Cambridge is reimagining its role in an ageing society — from offering “structured spaciousness” for reflection to building a community of leaders committed to creating “better futures.” They share the programme’s three pillars — Foundations, Frontiers and Wayfinding — and how these help participants navigate transition while remaining deeply connected to impact and meaning. It’s a thoughtful look at how an 800-year-old institution is quietly reinventing itself for the longevity era.

About Stewart McTavish

Stewart McTavish is the Academic Director and co-founder of the Better Futures Programme. A long-time innovator at the intersection of technology entrepreneurship and social impact, he has spent over two decades helping build Cambridge’s innovation ecosystem, as a founder and entrepreneur himself and also as a supporter including as the founding Director of University of Cambridge’s ideaSpace and as a founder of Deeptech Labs, an accelerator and venture fund. His background is computer science and engineering informs his systems-based approach to change, and his current focus is on connecting leaders across business, society, politics and academia to co-create opportunities to cultivate better futures.

About Alison Wood

Dr Alison Wood is Deputy Director of the Better Futures programme and a Fellow at Homerton College, University of Cambridge. A scholar of the humanities and education, she has spent her career exploring how universities can respond to societal change through innovation and interdisciplinary learning. Her work spans literature, music, and leadership education, and she has been a driving force behind Cambridge’s experiments in lifelong learning and midlife transformation. Passionate about rethinking what universities are for, she brings a deep interest in systems, culture, and the evolution of knowledge communities.

Useful links

* University of Cambridge – Better Futures Programme

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