Women Over 50 Are Leadership’s Hidden Advantage
Originally published by Kaitlin Traynor for Women of Influence
At a recent case study competition at TMU’s Ted Rogers School of Business, the room quieted as an MBA student stepped onstage. With charisma and contagious energy, it was the kind of presentation that gets people’s attention. Watching from the audience, Zabeen Hirij recognized the student had something special. She also knew the barriers the student would face as a woman entering a male-dominated industry.
Zabeen saw an opportunity. Drawing on a long-standing friendship, she picked up her phone and called a trusted leader in the same industry. That was all it took to open a door and give the student a valuable connection, one that can make a big difference early in a career. It was a powerful example of social capital in action. For Zabeen, the impulse came naturally. She relishes the chance to help the next generation grow.
Redefining the Prime of Life
Zabeen is the former Chief Human Resources Officer at RBC. She founded Purposeful Third Act, a movement that encourages people over 50 to find meaningful chapters after full-time work. Today, she serves as an Executive Advisor at Deloitte and takes on various pro-bono advisory roles with leaders in government, academia, and NGOs. She advises on leadership, culture, and “the future of work”, including the intersection of leadership and aging. Experienced professionals and leaders add great value to organizations and society, and mentorship is a key way to unlock that potential