From Walkmans to Wi-Fi: Why Women Over 50 Still Rock the Workplace

What is it about being over 50 that sends employers running? Do they think I can’t shimmy into a pencil skirt anymore? Or maybe I’m missing the trendy tattoo that signals “yes, I’m cool and totally with it.” Or is it the looming shadow of Medicare that has them assuming I’ll keel over before the next performance review?

Honestly, it’s probably all of the above. And let’s be clear: I’d still look fantastic in the skirt.

Here’s the truth—experience isn’t a liability. It’s leverage. Life has thrown me curveballs, reorganizations, babies, bosses, layoffs, deadlines, and more than one all-nighter. Those things can’t be compared to a shiny résumé with “two years out of college.”

I was never a CEO or middle management. I was an Executive Assistant—and a darn good one. EAs are the invisible engines of the workplace. We anticipate, organize, and smooth out the chaos so leadership can actually lead. Our skills are sharp, our discretion is solid, and our pride comes from making the whole operation work seamlessly. We also know when to keep our mouths shut. Confidentiality isn’t just part of the job—it’s the backbone. Leaders trust us with information that never leaves the room, and that trust is what makes us indispensable.

Some EAs are extroverts, out front and loud. Me? I’m a strong introvert who learned how to assert herself when the cause demanded it. My cause? Making sure my executive could focus on the big picture while knowing I had the details covered. Did it mean 24/7 work? Not always. But sometimes—yes. And the truth? We do it because we take pride in making the impossible look effortless.

The career “lifers” in the EA world—the ones who sat in the same seat for 25 years—those people are legends. They built legacies. I never had that path because I was raising a family of mini nuggets who needed me. But I’m proud of the zigzag path I did take.

I even kept myself fresh with writing gigs and graphic projects on the side. But here’s the gut punch: when I decided to go back to work after a hiatus, the offers didn’t pour in like they did in my 30s and early 40s. It was silent. Deafening. And then the smack in the face landed: it wasn’t my skills, my training, or my experience at prestigious companies. It was my age.

And that? That’s not just wrong—it’s wasteful.

I am here for all the women who worked hard, raised families, juggled a million spinning plates, and still showed up at work like pros. And for the women who never left—who kept climbing, kept building, kept everything afloat—you inspire me too. Different roads, same grit.

Here’s my message: women over 50 have SO MUCH to give. We’ve got life experience, grit, and yes—plenty of sass. We know people. We can read a room faster than you can send a Slack emoji. We can learn any new platform (we’ve learned every one so far), but what sets us apart is anticipating the curveballs before they even leave the pitcher’s hand.

This is what midlife is made for: a second act where we shine outside of the family dynamic. I love being the “forgotten Gen X” —because we’re not going anywhere. At this stage, we’re not leaving early to get a sick kid to the pediatrician. We’re not weighed down with the same competing priorities that steal everyone else’s sleep. We can dive in headfirst, and we want to.

We shine at this age. We’re more comfortable in our skin, sharper than ever, and motivated.

So here’s the ask: give us a chance. Or better yet—give your company a chance to win, because women over 50 are here to stay. Like cassette tapes and Doc Martens, we may go quiet for a while, but we always come back stronger—and trust me, you’ll want us on your team when the Wi-Fi crashes.