Barbara Brooks Speaks

06/16/2026

A stage in Texas just got a little more interesting... details coming soon.

06/15/2026

What do human-centered purpose, mentorship and leadership have in common with one of the world's largest hotel companies? Turns out, it's exactly what their employees are asking for.

Hilton has new research backing what a lot of us have been saying. After surveying 2,000+ of their workers, they found that human-centered leadership, mentorship, and purpose far outrank perks and technology as the top drivers of engagement and retention. They even coined their own term, "Return to Opportunity (RTO)," and the top drivers? Feeling valued, career growth, and strong workplace relationships.

Hmm. Funny, because that's exactly what I talk a lot about. Engaging, mentoring and collaborating with one another regardless of life stage.

Well, according to Gallup, companies with high employee engagement experience 18% more productivity and 23% more profitability than those with low engagement. You know what else boosts profitability? People of all ages working together.

It's refreshing to see one of the world's largest hoteliers survey their workforce and listen. The report makes it clear: small, intentional leadership behaviors move the needle. Being present. Fostering connection. Investing in development. Reinforcing purpose. Now imagine those behaviors reaching across every generation in the room. Slam dunk.

This is the conversation I bring to stages and teams every day. I'd love to bring it to yours.

[Link to the full article in comments.]

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06/11/2026

The world has been built for a 70-year lifespan, and most of us are going to blow right past that, with many of our parents having done so, as my own mother turns 89 this July. And the institutions, workplaces, and brands that haven't caught up yet? It's surprising that, in 2026, with all the data available, these spaces haven't incorporated longevity of the human race into their business and marketing strategies. The ignorance is not bliss. It's a bad business decision, as I say time and time again.

Well, Stanford University's latest edition of its longevity magazine is out, and the founding director of the Stanford Center on Longevity is stepping down after nearly 20 years. Her parting take? "The goal was never to help people live longer. It was to build societies where longer lives are actually worth living."

That's the conversation my colleagues and I have been having for years on LinkedIn, inside our communities, in media interviews, on stages, and the list goes on.

Experienced talent needs to stop being overlooked and undervalued.

Issue 11: June 2026SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE FIVE QUESTIONS Laura Carstensen on Longevity’s Big Moment The founding director of SCL reflects on the field’s greatest challenges and opportunities. Read more ALT/ SHIFT La jubilación? Choju? Ruhestand? Across nations and cultures, the word for “not work...

06/09/2026

Create & Cultivate just dropped their annual list of 100 women building, leading, and influencing at scale, and it is worth a look. And more than a few 40+ers made the list too.

So who are some of them? The Alli Webb, co-founder of Drybar; Gregg Renfrew, founder of Beautycounter; and Jeni Britton of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams.

See who else made the list. Maybe it will have one of you next year?

06/09/2026

I am retiring a speech title and need your help. I speak to women who are delivering results, building careers, and showing up every single day regardless of age. And somehow still feeling overlooked.

I have two new title directions, and I cannot pick. So I am asking you.

Which one makes you want to be in the room? Please put A or B in the comments.

Option A:
You Are the Asset. Why Experience Is Your Most Underused Career Advantage.

Option B:
You Are the Asset. And Nobody Has Told You That Yet.

Vote below. And if you have a third idea, drop it in the comments. I am all ears.

06/08/2026

Women 40, 50, 60+, walking the catwalk, and as it turns out, 100% of the top 20 brands had people over 50 walking in their shows during Fashion Week.

Most industries are still acting like we fade out somewhere around 45, and fashion just put us front and center and called us aspirational. When the runway shifts, retail can follow. Beauty. Advertising. Casting. Hiring.

The $15 trillion longevity economy isn't waiting for brands to catch up, and neither are we.

After Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour, both 76-years-old, graced the ...

05/26/2026

As the month closes in on 'Seasoned' Americans Month, let's see how well YOU do in the segment, "Booming GenX Millennial" Myths & Facts on KUSA-TV, 9NEWS.

Don't you just love the thumbnail they landed on? It's like I'm saying, "Watcha' talkin' 'bout Willis?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfnXKwzTFVU

05/21/2026

Get me in a room, on a mic or in conversation to talk about visibility and women - and why it's time we're seen more today than ever before and it's hard to get me to be quiet. I shared more than a few takes on being 'seen' online and off on Kami Guildner Coaching top business podcast for women, Extraordinary Women Radio.

What an honor it was to be with her and help listeners discover why visibility is no longer about self-promotion, but about allowing what you know, your leadership, and full body of work to be seen at the level they deserve.

When you have time to spare, tune in, especially if a personal rebrand is in order for your profession because you are making a change, looking for a new job or just launched a company.

Watch or take a listen. [Link in comments]