Personal Leadership in the Age of No Retirement

We are living longer and often healthier lives than ever before in history.

Shouldn’t our work lives adapt to this new era of longevity?

By introducing a sustainable personal leadership development approach that is fit for purpose in this era, Personal Leadership in the Age of No Retirement addresses the inevitable shift in societal attitudes towards work, health, wellbeing, and expectations around retirement and helps individuals to effectively navigate the coming years of their lives.

The book provides a model that is flexible, inclusive, and individualised. The authors, experts in organisational psychology and management, emphasise the need for recalibration of personal leadership goals and actions for sustainable and fulfilling working lives.

The book’s scientific research insights combined with the relatable examples and practical exercises will help mid-career business executives, professionals, and the general reader reflect on their career journey to date and adapt their personal developmental needs in light of new aspirations and realities so they can plan purposeful and meaningful actions to unlock the next chapter successfully.

• Introduces the reader to the sustainable personal leadership model
• Gives a current perspective on ageing and work and how midlife can be a defining factor in greater choice and control in an ever more individualised late career and life

Dr Tatiana S. Rowson is Associate Professor in Organisational Behaviour at Henley Business School. She teaches personal leadership development to students in the Henley MBA and undergraduate programmes. Tatiana is the Programme Area Director for Business and Management and is a member of the Henley Centre for Leadership. Her research interests encompass ageing, work, and employment, with a particular focus on how midlife transitions impact health, wellbeing, and economic activity in late career. Before joining academia, Tatiana worked as an organisational psychologist and executive coach for several high-profile organisations in the UK, Brazil, and the United Arab Emirates. She is currently based in the UK.

Dr Kelly Sloan is Associate Professor of Leadership at Henley Business School. She teaches personal leadership development to students in the Henley MBA programme and is a member of the Henley Centre for Leadership. Kelly leads a team which is responsible for student wellbeing and performance, and previously served as the Programme Director for the Henley MBA programmes. Before moving into management education, Kelly taught linguistics at universities in the US, Australia, and Germany. Having successfully pursued three separate careers, in two distinct academic fields and in management, she has first-hand knowledge of mid-career changes, which informs her research interests in career development at later life stages. Kelly is currently based in the UK.

"Sometimes you come across a book that speaks directly to you, and to the age. This is such a book. With an ageing global population and an ageing workforce, individuals and organisations need to press the reset button on what life and work look like past 65. Rowson and Sloan have produced a superb contribution to the field, which asks the right questions and offers answers: Important, intelligent and insightful, an essential read."
Prof Jonathan Passmore, Henley Business School, UK

"Clearly, there is still a huge job to do to reset the workplace as somewhere that older people can thrive and continue contributing, and this book puts several important building blocks in place… not least the role leaders need to play within organisations, and how a shift in how individuals themselves view work and their identity within the workplace can make a difference.This is an exhaustive piece of research delivered in clear language that makes a huge contribution to the massive social need to extend working lives by furthering our understanding of the drivers and mechanisms that can make it possible. Highly commended reading!"
Tony Watts OBE

"Longer lives lived will mean longer lives worked. In an age where there will be no retirement, people will have two options: take control and work in a capacity that suits your personal needs, values and motivations or get stuck in a situation which doesn’t. This book teaches you the foundations to be CEO of SELF Inc. A book for the intellectually curious, it will guide you through relevant research, asks you questions you need to answer, gives you exercises to explore and it will help you construct healthier foundations for the future. If you’re going to work for longer, make sure that time is spent wisely."
Lucy Standing, Founder, BraveStarts

"I was intrigued by the ideas in this book. In Personal Leadership in the Age of No Retirement, Dr. Tatiana S. Rowson and Dr. Kelly Sloan delve into the emerging phase of life where the concept of retirement is being redefined. As we live longer and healthier lives, this book explores how this new stage impacts work, health, and personal growth.　
The authors present a sustainable leadership model that encourages individuals to rethink their career paths and adopt a more fluid approach to integrating work and life. With a mix of scientific insights and practical strategies, this guide is essential for those looking to navigate this transformative era.　
Rowson and Sloan leverage their expertise in personal development to offer a new resource for anyone aiming to take new, fascinating, directions in their lives, where the boundaries of work and retirement continue to blur."
Jonathan Foster‑Pedley​​​​, Board Chair, Association of African Business Schools

"Personal Leadership in the Age of No Retirement is an exceptional book for anyone contemplating their next chapter in life. It inspires and challenges conventional views of retirement by presenting robust frameworks for those seeking meaningful careers and fulfilling lives after 65. Tatiana Rowson and Kelly Sloan skillfully integrate research with practical application, offering readers actionable insights grounded in the latest theories. As you embark on this personal journey, you’ll be gently encouraged to examine your own beliefs and assumptions. The book illustrates how individuals can successfully leverage their experiences and passions to create rewarding second acts. Personal Leadership in the Age of No Retirement is not just a guide, it’s a groundbreaking exploration of the potential that later life careers can offer to individuals and to society."
Annu Matula, Executive Coaching