The Over 50 Movement
Forbes journalism can create impact in several ways. A story that inspires or reveals. A franchise, like Forbes Billionaires, that updates who owns what in the world. The trickiest feat: a movement that makes people think di erently about some aspect of society. The Forbes 50 Over 50 (see page 17) falls into that last bucket.
Just as Hemingway described bankruptcy— “gradually, then suddenly”—so it goes with movement building. First you need a base: Moira Forbes has spent two decades building ForbesWomen as the leading voice for female leaders and entrepreneurs. Then, a spark. In 2020, Mika Brzezinski (above left) published a book, Comeback Careers. “Women in their 50s, 60s and beyond are paving this long runway,” says the cohost of Morning Joe. Taking note of our resonant 30 Under 30 list and community, the 50 Over 50 was born. A parallel franchise, just for women on that runway.
A big idea requires a big tent: the Forbes platform and team, led by ForbesWomen editor Maggie McGrath, buttressed by Brzezinski’s Know Your Value initiative and the reach of Morning Joe. And then a catalytic moment: in this case, March 2022, gathering the 50 Over 50 with the women of the 30 Under 30 for the inaugural Forbes 30/50 Summit in Abu Dhabi. International Women’s Day nally had a physical capital, with two-way mentoring at its heart.
Brzezinski felt the tipping point occurred last year, when she looked across the stage at Hillary Clinton, Billie Jean King, Gloria Steinem and Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska all on one panel, broadcast live around the world. “There was no looking back,” she says. My pick occurred this year: a mentoring session between legendary money guru Suze Orman and 50 Over 50 honoree Linda Lockhart that resulted in creating and funding bank accounts for 1,000 rural Kenyans. That’s what a movement looks like.