Retirement is supposed to be the best time of your life. But for many accomplished career women, the idea of retirement is terrifying. How do you reinvent yourself when you’ve invested years building your career identity? How do you define yourself without your work? And, most importantly, what will you do with all that time?

“We are the first wave of women who have devoted ourselves this extensively to our careers,” says Anne Stewart, partner at Blakes. “We do not have role models to look to for guidance to help us prepare for retirement.”

Leaders in Transition was designed to meet this need. Combining expert facilitation, group based discussion and individual planning activities, the program helps women to create a satisfying and productive next chapter in life.

“Not only did I learn the many elements a retirement plan should include, but I forged friendships that have become very important to me”, says Michelle Brenton, past-participant.

For women who have built a successful career or business, the transition process is often gradual. It takes time for women to make sense of their complex and changing reality, and to figure out how to apply their skills and knowledge in new and meaningful ways. Making space to learn about self in this stage of life is the key to rebalancing and creating a solid plan for the future. Doing it in community – with women facing similar fears and decisions – results in a supportive network that bridges into the new stage of life.  

As Michelle notes, “Just to be in the company of so many accomplished women made it a life altering experience.”

The next Leaders in Transition cohort starts September 16, 2016. The program takes place one Friday per month for six months. All sessions are held in Vancouver at the SAP office in Yaletown and facilitated by Helen Dewar, a Certified Retirement Coach.