TURNING POINT

Embracing the midlife power of female leadership

A 6-month leadership development programme for women

Why it's time for Turning Point

Midlife women, aged 40-60, are the fastest expanding workforce demographic globally, on target to surpass one billion worldwide by the end of 2025. In New Zealand alone there are over 500,000 employed women in this life stage, with more than 80,000 in leadership roles.

These women represent a significant talent source for organisations, filling more specialist, executive, and leadership roles than ever. However, they’re also leaving these positions in record numbers, citing flexibility, wellbeing, work-life balance, and alternative career paths as key reasons.

According to The 30% Club, a global campaign led by Chairs and CEOs to increase gender diversity at board and executive levels, for every woman getting promoted into a senior role two are leaving. McKinsey & Co. is calling this phenomenon ‘The Great Breakup’.

We recognise the considerable value and potential in midlife female leaders and believe organisations can and must do better to support their development through this transitional life stage.

To find out more about Turning Point and why organisations need to invest in their midlife female leaders, please request a brochure.

The Midlife Turning Point

Midlife is a stage of life characterised by transformation and introspection. With 40-50+ years of life under our belts, we have accumulated vast experience, honed our skills, and navigated numerous professional and personal challenges and milestones. Yet, at a time when we should be at the height of our powers, we run headlong into obstacles specific to this life stage that can knock us off course, hinder our progress, and undermine our confidence.

From the subtle biases and stereotypes that persist in our own minds and our workplaces, to the societal expectations that shape our roles as women, parents and caregivers. From balancing responsibilities and priorities across multiple (often conflicting) domains, to juggling career aspirations with our partners or doing it all alone. From dealing with the stigma of peri/menopause and the bias of gendered ageism, to redefining our identities: we find ourselves in a space between who we were and who we will become.

Find out if Turning Point is the right choice for you.

Is Turning Point For You?

Midlife is a challenging time for everyone but it’s especially demanding for women. If you resonate with any of the following, you’re not alone:

Feeling exhausted, struggling to recover, and wondering if you’re on the path to burnout
Struggling to juggle the many and varied demands of your roles across life, work and leadership
Measuring yourself against impossible and often conflicting expectations as a woman, daughter, partner, mother, friend, and leader

Prioritising the wellbeing of others before your own
Backsliding in confidence despite your experience, credibility and feedback from others
Surprised by the arrival of peri/menopause, its symptoms, and its impact; and with
Growing negative self-talk about your visibility, value and relevance.

The Turning Point Programme

Turning Point
2024

RUNS FROM FEBRUARY – AUGUST.
LIMITED TO 14 PEOPLE.
APPLICATIONS OPEN 1 SEP – 1 DEC 2023.

Until now there hasn’t been a leadership development programme designed specifically to support female leaders like you through this challenging yet temporary transitional time. So we’ve created one!

Delivered over six months using a blended approach of in-person deep development experiences, on-line coaching and connection sessions, and a dedicated cohort space on our Pathmaker Community platform, Turning Point is the first leadership development programme of its kind for New Zealand.

It focuses on specific challenges and opportunities for women through this life and leadership transition, providing an experience that aims to awaken you from the quiet midlife crisis, shake off the shackles of outdated stereotypes, and embrace your midlife leadership power and potential.

As one of a close knit, collective development cohort of no more than 14 women, you will:

Rediscover Yourself
Re-prioritise Your Wellbeing
Repurpose Your Leadership

You will emerge from our 6-month journey together with:

Greater awareness of the common humanity in our midlife experience
An increased sense of calm and personal power
Renewed confidence and conviction in your capability
New levels of commitment to your personal wellbeing
Understanding of your midlife potential released from the constraints of outdated stereotypes and limiting stories
Excitement for the impact your midlife leadership can make; and
Deep connection with a community of women for ongoing support in life and leadership.

The 2024 Turning Point Programme runs between February and August. The application window is open from 1 September to 1 December 2023.

Places are strictly limited to 14 people.

To find out more about Turning Point including programme content, dates, locations, and investment please request a brochure.

Turning Point
2024

RUNS FROM FEBRUARY – AUGUST.
LIMITED TO 14 PEOPLE.
APPLICATIONS OPEN 1 SEP – 1 DEC 2023.

About Kate Billing

Kate Billing is New Zealand’s leading voice on human-centred leadership and the intersection of gender/age equity in our workplaces. She is the Founder of katebilling.com, Co-founder & Executive Development Director of Blacksmith, and Founder & Menopause Advocate of the Menopause Awareness & Action Community.

For more than 25 years Kate has worked in the people, culture and leadership space building a reputation for sharp insights, compassionate challenge, warmth and energy. Over that time she has worked with a wide range of leaders and Executive Teams, the best of whom have demonstrated the awareness, willingness, and courage required for deep and meaningful growth.

Kate believes it no longer serves us to compartmentalise leadership development, personal development and leadership wellbeing. She believes now is the time to combine these ingredients of adaptive function and performance into what she calls Fully Human™ development: supporting leaders through a ‘whole-person + whole-life philosophy’.

In the media

What others say about working with Kate

Empowered, valued and authentically heard

“Kate made me feel important, listened to, heard, valued and comfortable in what were at times uncomfortable and vulnerable moments. I am so grateful for her time and energy and openness.”

Linda Hanson
Analytics & Reporting Manager

Transformative Leadership Journey

“An indescribable journey of self discovery that has impacted my personal leadership beyond compare. Nothing more to say except it has been what I have needed for over 10 years and it has rocked my leadership world. If you get the opportunity, be brave and immerse yourself.”

Edith Sykes
Chief People Officer

Unparalleled passion and insight

“Anyone that has attended workshops facilitated by Kate will know how amazing she is – her openness, genuine interest in understanding what makes people tick and her phenomenal knowledge and passion for her craft put her in a league of her own.”

Abi Cameron
Head of Performance & Insight