Is mid or late career really a slow fade — or could it be a powerful new beginning?

In the first HRchat episode of 2026, host Pauline James is joined by career development pioneer Gillian Johnston to challenge outdated ideas about career progression, age, and value at work.

Drawing on nearly five decades shaping career standards and programmes in Canada and internationally, Gillian reframes work beyond the traditional career ladder. Together, Pauline and Gillian explore how agency, curiosity, and calculated risk can help professionals navigate uncertainty, reinvention, and leadership in multigenerational workplaces.

The conversation tackles ageism head-on, including Gillian’s personal experience of bias and how returning to the classroom rebuilt her confidence and sense of efficacy. For leaders, this episode offers practical guidance on designing better career conversations — asking open questions, avoiding assumptions about older workers, and co-creating growth paths aligned to both individual strengths and business needs.

You’ll also hear actionable ideas on:

• Moving from linear careers to flexible pathways
• Valuing later-career talent beyond mentoring roles
• Building belonging, visibility, and stretch opportunities
• Rewirement vs. retirement and identity beyond job titles
• Practical steps for stalled careers, experimentation, and signaling interest

If you’re feeling stuck, undervalued, or unsure what comes next — or if you lead teams across generations — this episode offers a hopeful, practical roadmap for renewed purpose and performance at work.

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