Stepping into TEDx: Midlife, the Red Dot, and What It Means to Rise

Preparing for TEDx and Why Midlife Is the Most Powerful Time to Rise, Reinvent, and Lead

In just a few days, I’ll be stepping onto the TEDx stage at TEDx St Pete Women in Tampa, Florida, a moment I’ve dreamed about, visualised, and worked tirelessly toward.

My talk is called:

“The Midlife Advantage: Why Your Greatest Success Can Come After 40.”

This isn’t just a talk. It’s a message that’s been living in my heart for years. And now, it’s ready to be shared with the world.

What I’ll share from that famous red circle isn’t just my story, it’s a reframe, a reset, and a rally cry for every woman who’s ever felt like her best years were behind her.

Here’s a glimpse of what I’ll be speaking about:

What’s inside my TEDx talk:

Why midlife is not a crisis, it’s your greatest advantage
How I built and sold a 7-figure hospitality business starting at 43, with zero experience in the industry
The truth that you’re not starting from scratch, you’re starting from experience
The science behind transformation: how our bodies literally renew every seven years
Why the ‘messy middle’ isn’t a breakdown, it’s a metamorphosis

Themes I’ll explore on stage:

Menopause reframed, not the end, but the beginning of a powerful new phase marked by creativity, leadership, and clarity
The wisdom of Margaret Mead and her concept of post-menopausal zest, a surge of energy and purpose that fuels reinvention
Insights from the Forbes 50 Over 50 list, showcasing women creating their greatest impact in their 50s, 60s, and beyond
Why midlife is the sweet spot: when wisdom, resilience, and resourcefulness finally meet, and magic happens

This isn’t just about me. It’s about all of us, especially the women redefining what's possible after 40.

Behind the Scenes: What It’s Really Like to Prepare for TEDx

TEDx isn’t just about delivering a polished keynote. It’s about distilling one idea worth spreading, raw, clear, human.

Since being selected, I’ve been on a journey of becoming.

It’s meant:

Countless rewrites and rehearsals
Late-night sessions visualising the audience
Coaching calls where we stripped it all back to truth
Practising transitions, refining tone, and cutting fluff so the message could land with impact
Learning to trust myself in front of the mirror, even when I didn’t feel fully ready

And yes, I’m still deciding on my outfit (just keeping it real).

I’ve also worked hard to inject a little Aussie humour to break the ice and lighten the weight. Because vulnerability doesn’t have to be heavy to be powerful.

And I’ll be carrying something else onto that stage with me...

What I’ll Carry With Me to the Red Dot

I’ll carry the stories of the women I serve.
The clients who whisper, “I think I missed my moment”, and then rediscover their fire.
The leaders burnt out from years of hustle, now ready for more balance and alignment.
The mothers, the builders, the dreamers who still wonder, “Is it too late for me?”

And I’ll carry a little personal pride, too, because this week, my son turned 19 years old. I’m not just stepping onto that stage as a speaker, but as a mother who’s grown and evolved right alongside him.

We’re both entering new chapters. And what a gift it is to witness your own reinvention alongside your child’s becoming.

The Truth About This Journey: It’s a Stretch

I won’t sugarcoat it: this process has stretched me.

There were nights I thought, “What am I doing?”
In the mornings, I doubted every line.
Moments where I wanted to back out and play it safe.

But growth doesn’t happen in comfort.
It happens when we stretch.

The stretch looks like:

Practising the talk at 11pm
Rewriting a single line five times
Receiving feedback that stings, but sticking with it
Choosing courage over confidence, every single day

And I know this for sure:
The stretch is the point.

Why Midlife Isn’t the End, It’s the Beginning

We’ve been sold the lie that midlife is a time to slow down.

But what if it’s actually the time to rise?

According to Harvard Business Review, women over 40 are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs.

We’re leaving traditional roles. We’re launching podcasts, writing books, building brands, mentoring others, and finally backing ourselves.

We are not over the hill.

We are standing at the summit, with clarity, conviction, and a whole lot of lived experience.

This TEDx talk is a love letter to the women ready to reclaim that truth.

One Final Thought

Midlife is not a crisis.
It’s a calling.
A moment to pause, reflect, pivot, and make a power move.

Your greatest success?
It might be just around the corner.

I’ll be sharing more behind the scenes in the lead-up to the big day, so stay tuned, and thank you for being part of this journey.

Let’s rise together.
Let’s redefine the narrative.
Let’s step boldly into what’s next.