4-Quarter Lives

This week on 4-Quarter Lives Avivah Wittenberg-Cox talks with Céline Abecassis-Moedas, Pro-Rector for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Lisbon, Portugal, and Co-Director of the Longevity Leadership Program at Catolica. As becomes clear during their conversation, her fellow director on this program is Avivah Wittenberg-Cox!Not surprisingly their conversation focuses on the need for and value of a Longevity Leadership programme of this kind. Launched in June 2024, the week-long program addresses the growing impact of lengthening lives for individuals, businesses and society. Céline explains how it offers a unique, holistic approach that combines three elements – personal development, business strategy and societal perspectives on longevity. Lisbon is itself emerging as a longevity hub in various ways, making it a valuable location for the program. Céline describes how her personal experience sparked her interest in longevity and her recognition of a gap in executive education in part (though not specifically) for the 55+ demographic, and examining the growing significance of longer careers. Working with Avivah, they developed this into the larger concept of a course also exploring the organisational and societal implications of changing demographics, and structured a program that covers macro-economic trends, business opportunities, career transitions, personal health and finance, and even urban planning, bringing in a range of experts on each of these topics. Participants, ranging in age from late 20s to early 60s, gender balanced and from a range of corporate and non-corporate backgrounds, reported exceptionally high satisfaction ratings. Finally Céline describes their plans for the 2025 program, to be held June 23-27 in Lisbon, and potentially with online sessions before and after the in-person week.Céline Abecassis-Moedas is a Professor and Pro-Rector for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Universidade Católica Portuguesa and an Ambassador at the Stanford Center on Longevity. She holds a PhD in Management from École Polytechnique, Paris and an MA in Management from the Université Paris Dauphine. She is a graduate from École Normale Supérieure de Cachan and La Sorbonne in Economics and Management. Celine was Dean for Executive Education at Catolica Lisbon from 2019 to 2024 and previously Assistant Professor at the Centre for Business Management at Queen Mary, University of London. She worked in Business Development at Lectra in New York and as a Consultant at AT Kearney in London. Céline’s research interests are on the role of design in innovation, design management, innovation management and entrepreneurship mostly in creative industries, and her work as been widely published. In addition to her academic experience, Celine is non-executive director at CUF, Vista Alegre Atlantis and Lectra.Some Useful Links:* Catolica Lisbon Longevity Leadership Program Overview* Catolica Lisbon Longevity Leadership Program Structure* Catolica Lisbon Longevity Leadership Program Application Form* Stanford Center on Longevity Ambassador Get full access to Elderberries at elderberries.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of 4-Quarter Lives, Avivah Wittenberg-Cox talks with Dr Niobe Way, Professor of Developmental Psychology at NYU and author of Rebels with a Cause: Reimagining Boys, Ourselves and Our Culture. Her groundbreaking research has transformed how we understand boys, friendships, and the very human need for connection. In Rebels with a Cause she distils four decades of research to uncover the hidden emotional lives of boys and what their struggles teach us – not only about them, but also about ourselves.She and Avivah discuss her insights into how our culture’s rigid ‘boy’ culture norms disconnect us from one another, the mental health impacts of this crisis, and her vision for building a more connected, curious, and relational world. Dr Way describes how research shows the strong desire boys have for close friendships, but at the same time how they struggle to maintain them due to cultural pressures, and the "boy culture" that devalues emotional connection. This culture is pervasive globally and impacts young girls as well, contributing to mental health issues and social problems. She and Avivah explore possible ways of addressing the challenges, and how listening with genuine curiosity is key to fostering connection and breaking down stereotypes. Dr Way also suggests that technology could be leveraged to encourage curiosity and meaningful interaction, rather than superficial "likes". She is developing an ‘Agape Teens’ App which gamify’s the practice of curiosity for teenagers, helping to break down stereotypes and foster real connection.Dr. Niobe Way is a Professor of Developmental Psychology at NYU, the founder of the Project for the Advancement of Our Common Humanity (PACH), co-founder of agapi.teens, and the principal investigator on the Listening with Curiosity Project. Dr. Way was the President of the Society for Research on Adolescence. She has authored nearly a hundred journal articles and numerous books, including Deep Secrets: Boys’ Friendships and the Crisis of Connection (Harvard University Press) and Everyday Courage: The Lives and Stories of Urban Teenagers (NYU Press). She received her B.A. from U.C. Berkeley, her doctoral degree from Harvard, and was an National Institute of Mental Health postdoctoral fellow at Yale in the psychology department.Some Useful Links:* Niobe Way’s website* Review of Rebels with a Cause, The Harvard Gazette* To buy Rebels with a Cause (UK)* To buy Rebels with a Cause (USA) Get full access to Elderberries at elderberries.substack.com/subscribe

In this first episode of Season 8 of 4 Quarter Lives, Avivah Wittenberg-Cox talks with Katja Meier, writer and founder of Zenka Films.Katja is on a mission to build a media world where not only female-driven content is the norm, but where female heroes above the age of 50 are no longer the exception. She and Avivah discuss the TV series Katja has developed about a 59-year-old woman who inherits a successful mining company and sets about challenging the less than ethical business practices she discovers there. Katja describes the experiences that led her to this theme, the inspirational women who influenced her thinking, and the negative reactions she received from potential producers and investors at the idea of having a woman in her late 50s as the lead character. She talks about how, determined to prove to industry sceptics the viability of stories centred around an older woman, she set up Zenka Films, and describes the innovative production approaches taken, focused on transparency, fair compensation and startup-like team structures. She and Avivah discuss initial positive audience responses, not only from 50+ audiences but from younger age groups also, as well as the lessons that Katja has learned in the course of this fascinating journey.Katja Meier was an actor in Switzerland and Germany for several years before she swapped Shakespeare and Goethe for a backpack and settled in Italy, where she's lived since 1999. Her varied experiences include running a refugee home in Tuscany, which inspired her memoir "Across the Big Blue Sea: Good Intentions and Hard Lessons in an Italian Refugee Home" (a Guardian Best Summer Book). Today, she splits her time between Italy and a winter campsite in the Swiss Alps – the latter serving as $HARE’s film location. Through Zenka Films, she's pioneering sustainable production methods and fair wage practices in the film industry. Her Substack newsletter 'Startup with 50' follows her entrepreneurial quest to revolutionize storytelling in film and television (which is a TV show in its own right).Some Useful Links:* $HARE pilot episode online* Katja’s substack newsletter.* Katja’s introductory blog.* Zenka films website* Zenka’s Instagram* Katja’s LinkedIn* Katja’s article on Noon* Article in The Guardian* Katja’s Book Get full access to Elderberries at elderberries.substack.com/subscribe

This week on 4-Quarter Lives, Avivah Wittenberg-Cox talks with Alan MacIntosh, Founding Partner in AgeTech Capital, a purpose-driven private market investment firm focused on innovative & affordable technology solutions for healthier and fulfilling ageing. They discuss the dramatic rise of the longevity economy which, in the USA alone, is projected to triple from $8.3 trillion to $26.8 trillion by 2050. As part of this, age technology is seeing increasing innovation and investment, with areas like connected living, new forms of caregiving, preventative health monitoring and interventions, and financial security all growing as services and investment opportunities. Alan describes examples of AgeTech Capital’s investments, identifies how AI might augment support for older adults, emphasises the need to balance innovation with ethical considerations and outlines a new investor network partnership between AgeTech Capital and the AgeTech Collaborative™ from AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), which aims to drive systemic innovations in the field of ageing.  Building, operating and investing in entrepreneur-led technology businesses across innovation cycles for three decades, Alan MacIntosh’s early international career spanned the energy, IT and mobile sectors with Schlumberger, HP and the Telesystem group. He co-founded GSM Capital, the first global wireless venture fund, with notable investments such as Saraïde (acquired by Infospace) and Paypal. As a founding partner in Acta Wireless, he chaired OZ Communications (acquired by Nokia), co-founded Millennial Media, as well as Real Ventures, Canada's leading source of capital for entrepreneurs and a driving force behind emerging tech ecosystems. Alan's long term commitment to his community includes Cofounder/Ambassador of TechAide (supporting United Way), Advisory Board Member of AI4GoodLab, Cofounder of the OSMO Foundation (Maison Notman House), former Co-Chair of Startup Montreal, Founding Sponsor of the Mobile Giving Foundation and Advisor to Kids Code Jeunesse. A native of Scotland, keen cyclist and lifelong skier, Alan holds a BSc (Hons) in Offshore Engineering from Heriot-Watt University and an MBA from INSEAD. Some Useful Links: * AgeTech Capital website * AgeTech Investor Network link * LifestyleRx * Bloom Finance  Get full access to Elderberries at elderberries.substack.com/subscribe

This week on 4-Quarter Lives, Avivah Wittenberg-Cox talks with Amanda Philpott, the co-founder and CEO of eargym. They discuss hearing health and how hearing loss is strongly correlated with cognitive decline and risk of dementia, yet is often overlooked in preventative healthcare. Amanda explains how early intervention can significantly improve quality of life as we age, and in particular reduce the social isolation (and consequent cognitive decline) that hearing loss can cause. She describes her own experience of living with moderate hearing loss and how this led her to create eargym after a 30-year career in the UK’s National Health Service. Eargym’s focus is on ongoing hearing checks and auditory training games focused on sound detection, localisation, discrimination and meaning attribution. Amanda also talks about the exciting but rewarding challenge in her Q3 of transitioning from the NHS to a role as start-up entrepreneur.  Amanda Philpott founded eargym in 2020. Both she and her eargym co-founder, ex-DJ Andy Shanks, live with moderate hearing loss and have family with dementia. She is an ex-NHS CEO, has extensive senior leadership and operational experience in health and care and is a population health strategy specialist. Her hope, in making the leap from her long public service career into the world of digital health start-ups, is to try to have a valuable impact on global health and well-being from a wholly different perspective.  Some Useful Links: * eargym website * eargym video * eargym online ear check  Get full access to Elderberries at elderberries.substack.com/subscribe

This week on 4-Quarter Lives, Avivah Wittenberg-Cox talks with Deirdre Wafer, Global Co-Chair of the Wisdom Employee Resource Group at LinkedIn. They discuss how to navigate the many intricacies of careers, the pivotal nature of transitions, particularly later in careers, and the role that the Wisdom ERG plays at LinkedIn. Deirdre Wafer is Global Co-Chair of the Wisdom Employee Resource Group at LinkedIn, which brings employees 40+ and their allies together with the aim of making LinkedIn an inclusive workplace for all ages. Additionally, she leads a Customer Insights team for LinkedIn Marketing Solutions within EMEA & LATAM, delivering insights to big brand and media agency clients. Prior to joining LinkedIn, Deirdre had a successful marketing career across various industries, working with companies such as Virgin Media, Liberty Insurance, Meteor Mobile, AXA, and Bank of Ireland. Some Useful Links:  * “How employers can break down generational echo chambers at work” – Raconteur Article  * Deirdre Wafer LinkedIn link.  Get full access to Elderberries at elderberries.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of 4-Quarter Lives, Avivah Wittenberg-Cox speaks with Michael King, Managing Director of Senior Response, one of the UK’s first and only client contact management services dedicated to the over-50s market. Established in 2001 Senior Response manages client contact communication, by phone, SMS, email, post, and webchat on behalf of clients. Michael shares his professional journey, starting from his early career with Capital One to his eventual role at Senior Response, a company he first encountered as a client. He explains how Senior Response sets itself apart by employing older agents who can relate to their customers’ life experiences, providing a more empathetic and effective service. He and Avivah discuss the challenges companies face when marketing to older demographics, highlighting the need for tailored approaches that account for their specific life stages. He emphasizes that businesses should recognize the role of adult children in purchasing decisions and adapt their strategies accordingly. The conversation also touches on the importance of flexibility in work environments, particularly in a sector known for high turnover, and how Senior Response maintains high retention by offering adaptable shifts and a supportive culture. Michael King joined Senior Response Ltd in 2018 as Managing Director. He is an experienced Senior Contact Centre Professional with a history of working across multiple industries and businesses, including Dixons Carphone, the Post Office, BNP Paribas and Capital One. His experience includes Contact Centre Operations, Business Process Improvement, Sales Operations, Customer Retention, and Stakeholder Management. He has a degree in Accounting and Business Management from Long Island University. Some Useful Links: * Senior Response website  Get full access to Elderberries at elderberries.substack.com/subscribe

This week on 4-Quarter Lives, Avivah Wittenberg-Cox talks with Tina Backhouse, the General Manager in the UK of Theramex, a global speciality pharmaceutical company focused on supporting the health needs of women at all stages of life. They discuss the particular health needs of women, particularly as they age, the need for women to monitor key health metrics post menopause, the specific risks of cardiovascular disease, dementia and osteoporosis and the need for research to take better account of different ethnicities and age groups. Tina describes how Theramex addresses these and other health issues, the changing health concerns for women pre- and post-menopause, the value of DEXA scans, other preventative screenings and the increased importance of fitness, diet and exercise habits from the late 40s onwards. They discuss the role of supplements and of HRT treatment. Tina Backhouse has over 25 years’ experience in global senior leadership roles in the pharmaceutical industry, launching innovative products across a diverse range of therapy areas in both large and small pharma companies. She joined Theramex to lead the UK Women’s Health business in 2020, helping establish Theramex in the UK as the largest supplier of HRT & Menopause Products. She is passionate about there being equality of healthcare for all women in the UK, and that women have choice in their healthcare options. Some Useful Links: * Theramex UK website * Theramex International website * The British Menopause Society website  Get full access to Elderberries at elderberries.substack.com/subscribe

This week on 4-Quarter Lives Avivah Wittenberg-Cox talks with Nick Viner, co-Founder and Director of Circle Square — a membership community for individuals over 50 focused on positive ageing, personal growth, and purpose in the third quarter of life. Nick shares his insights into creating a vibrant community for people moving into new life chapters, offering a rich programme of curated events, trusted services and a career transition programme. He talks about what motivated him to create Circle Square and who it is for. He emphasises the importance of building a gender-balanced community for social interaction, sharing of wisdom, and adding value to society, and discusses the challenge many face in finding friendships and purpose after their careers end, which Circle Square helps to address. Currently focused on the UK, the aim is to build local chapters globally, starting in New York, and to expand their Planning Your Next Chapter coaching programme worldwide.In his previous career, before launching Circle Square in 2017, Nick spent 20 years at The Boston Consulting Group, helping clients around the world on strategy, business development and leadership. Shifting to the not-for-profit sector, he established and built a $50 million ground-breaking new cultural and community centre in London, called JW3, for the Jewish community and for London as a whole. He is currently Chair of Jewish Museum London, and has served as a trustee or Board member of charities with a strong commitment to education and the arts including Alexander Haus eV, the Architectural Association, the Institute of Imagination, JW3 and WAC Arts. He is a non-executive Director of independent publisher, Profile Books, and a Board member of several grant-giving foundations. Nick studied law at Cambridge and has an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is married with 4 children and 3 grandchildren.Some Useful Links:* Circle Square website* Circle Square’s Planning Your Next Chapter Programme Get full access to Elderberries at elderberries.substack.com/subscribe

This week on 4-Quarter Lives, Avivah Wittenberg-Cox talks with Lindsey Beagley, Senior Director of Lifelong University Engagement at Arizona State University. They discuss the growing interest of universities to re-design themselves for the new age of longevity, engaging with people throughout their lives rather than just as the outset. Lindsey describes how Arizona State University is doing so in its various programmes, and in particular their ground-breaking Mirabella University Retirement Community on the ASU Tempe campus – integrating a continuing care retirement community into a university campus. She talks about how older adults involved in the Mirabella program are eager to help young people as well as to continue their own learning, and how this desire to mentor and support younger generations has influenced the program's design and success. Lindsey Beagley currently serves as Senior Director of Lifelong University Engagement at Arizona State University. In this role, she launched Mirabella at ASU, a University Retirement Community on the ASU Tempe campus. She serves on the global council of the Age-Friendly University Global Network and on the board of directors for Heirloom Communities, intergenerational residential housing for low-income older adults and youth aging out of the foster care system. Beagley holds a master’s degree in public administration and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education degree in Higher Education Leadership and Innovation with a focus on intergenerational learning in college classrooms. Some Useful Links: * https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2024/08/08/longevity-boom-boost-higher-ed-opinion * https://www.mirabellaasu.org/*  https://learning.asu.edu/*  https://www.universityretirementcommunities.com* The Nexel Collaborative: https://thenexel.org/*  Age Friendly University Global Network: www.afugn.org * Heirloom Communities: https://www.heirloomcommunities.com/ Get full access to Elderberries at elderberries.substack.com/subscribe