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What happens when a distinguished accounting professor decides there's more to life than academia? In this captivating conversation, 66-year-old Kim Watty reveals her remarkable journey from emeritus professor to entrepreneur, co-founding The Main Act with her daughter Prue.

After three decades teaching accounting at prestigious Australian universities, Kim felt pulled toward a different purpose. That calling materialized as a business helping women design purposeful retirements that transcend the typical financial focus. "Pop 'retirement for women' in your browser," Kim explains, "and nine out of ten references will be about finances." The Main Act fills this gap by addressing the emotional, social, and purpose-driven aspects of this major life transition.

Their flagship "Retirement by Design" program—built on Stanford Business School methodology—guides women through an eight-week journey of self-discovery and intention-setting. Participants create three "odyssey plans" for different possible futures, developing the tools and confidence to design their next chapter with purpose. The carefully curated small groups bring together women with similar mindsets around curiosity and action, creating powerful community connections.

Kim's personal transformation mirrors what she hopes to inspire in others. The former accounting professor now starts her days swimming in Melbourne Bay with the Icebergers (wetsuit-free, even in winter!), practices meditation and yoga, and has completely transformed her reading list from academic journals to books on mindfulness and life design. Working alongside her daughter brings the added dimension of cross-generational perspectives.

The statistics are striking—62% of women wish they'd planned better for retirement, with half wishing they'd started earlier. By reframing retirement not as an ending but as taking greater control of how you spend your time, The Main Act helps women see this transition as an opportunity rather than a loss. As Kim wisely observes, "Retirement isn't about finishing work; it's about taking more control of the different activities that make up your life."

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Wisepreneurs Newsletter: Thrive at 60+ with Purpose & Strategy
Smart, Sustainable Support for Women Entrepreneurs Beyond 60
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