Remember when being the youngest was part of your identity? Jo shares her personal journey from being the baby of every classroom to becoming a school principal at 26, always the youngest in leadership roles. But decades later, she found herself on the other side of that equation, and it was confronting. From the grocery store checkout where a teenager asked if she had a pension card, to walking into fashion shops and feeling dismissed, Jo explores the real challenge many midlife women face: suddenly feeling invisible. This isn't just in our heads; societal biases are real, but they don't have to define our story. Jo reveals five powerful strategies to bridge the gap between invisibility and the authentic power that comes with experience.
Key Takeaways
Own Your Space
When you walk into a room, people notice your presence before you even speak. Stop shrinking yourself by staying at the back or crossing your arms. You've earned the right to take up space. Stand tall, maintain steady eye contact, and speak with calm clarity. Presence is about energy, not volume. When you step into the fullness of who you are, people will lean in rather than tune out.
Draw on Your Experience
Younger women might bring fresh ideas, but they don't have your lived experience. You've weathered storms, adapted to change, and navigated challenges your younger self couldn't have imagined. Share your stories in meetings, social gatherings, and your community. There's something magnetic about a woman who says, "I've been through this, and here's what I've learned."
Build Connection Instead of Competition
Comparison only shrinks and diminishes you. Look for connection, collaboration, and mentorship opportunities. When you step into the role of connector rather than competitor, you naturally command respect. The older women you've admired radiated generosity, not rivalry.
Shift Your Mindset
This is the most important piece. If you walk into a space thinking, "I'm too old, I don't matter," that's the energy you'll give off. Reframe it to "I'm experienced, I'm grounded and strong, and I've got more to offer than ever." Picture your 20-year-old self looking at who you are now, she'd probably be in awe, thinking, "she's pretty bloody amazing."
Your Visibility Starts Now
You may not be the youngest in the room anymore, and that can take getting used to. But it doesn't mean you have to fade into the background. This is your time to step into a deeper, stronger, and more authentic kind of power. As women of our age, we may not have had these role models when we were younger, so let's be the role models for the women coming behind us.
Journal on these reflection questions:
Where do you notice yourself feeling unseen?
What would it look like if you walked into that same space fully in your power?
What strengths do you have now that your younger self didn't?
Who models the kind of visible, vibrant presence you admire?
Share your reflections with Jo via DM or email, and don't forget to listen to Episode #111 with Megan Della Camina https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/MiOU2gPyiWb and Episode #121 with Jackie Duckworth https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/9hRB72UyiWb for deeper dives into these themes.
Remember: you are more than the roles you've played, and you hold the pen to your next chapter.
Connect with me
Book your 20-minute connection call https://calendly.com/jo--138/20min?month=2025-07
RE-IMAGINE: A personalised 1:1 six-week mentoring programme https://www.joclarkcoaching.com/work-with-me
Share your journey with me by sending me a message on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/joclarkcoaching/
Email me your success story at jo@joclarkcoaching.com.
Remember, there's so much untapped brilliance in midlife women. You are wise, strong, and talented. You just need the space to hear yourself and the courage to act on what you know.
The second half of your life can be even better than the first.