The Power of Mentorship at Work: How Midlife Leaders Give Back

What if midlife isn't a crisis, but a powerful opportunity to give back, grow, and lead the next generation?

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In this episode of The People Dividend podcast, host Mike Horne welcomes Dr. Deborah Heiser, applied developmental psychologist and founder of The Mentor Project, to explore the powerful role of mentorship in the workplace and the concept of generativity in midlife.

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Dr. Heiser challenges outdated views of aging by framing midlife as a time of leadership, contribution, and fulfillment. She explains how organizations can tap into the value of midlife employees by supporting their desire to give back through mentorship. The episode explores the importance of organic, meaningful connections between mentors and mentees—and how HR leaders can create environments that nurture employee development, positive aging, and purpose at work.

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Whether you're an executive, HR professional, or mid-career leader, this episode offers actionable insights on mentorship, retention, and workplace wellbeing.

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Key Points:

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• Generativity is a natural and powerful stage in midlife where people seek to give back to others and find deeper meaning.
• Mentorship thrives when driven by intrinsic motivation and genuine connection—not just formal structure.
• Coaching and mentoring serve different purposes but are both essential tools for personal and professional development.

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Our biggest, most impactful mentorship is lateral mentorship. - Deborah Heisser 

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We are built to give back, to care for others without expecting anything in return. And this is built in the same way walking and talking is built in. - Deborah Heiser 

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Midlife and older employees have this desire to be generative. And it really is so important that a company can offer that to people. - Deborah Heiser

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Learn More about Deborah Heiser

http://www.mentorproject.org/, https://deborahheiser.com/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-heiser-phd/