They have led projects, trained teams, solved crises, all while juggling career, motherhood, commitment and responsibilities. And yet, at 52, 57 or 61, many of them doubt. Not their technical skills, but their legitimacy to still take up space.
As if that space had once been granted to them, but today needed to be earned, explained, justified again.
A confidence worn down by fatigue and invisibility.
These women are your colleagues, your partners, your sisters – and perhaps you. They are not lacking in expertise, but they carry an inner exhaustion: the fatigue of always having to prove they are still up to date, of a world that evolves without them, of no longer being seen as legitimate to undertake, to lead, or simply to exist professionally.
And what if this loss of confidence was not an individual weakness, but the result of an environment that no longer truly sees them?
A powerful generation doubting in silence
In Belgium, in 2023, 53.4% of women aged 55 to 64 were professionally active, compared with only 45.6% in 2018. But this progress hides persistent inequalities: their activity rate remains well below that of men in the same age group (62.2% in 2023).
This gender gap partly explains why, for many of them, the idea of “still finding their place” feels vague, distant, or simply out of reach. They tell themselves:
“I’m outdated…”
“It’s not for me anymore…”
“I’ll never be able to do what others do…”
But behind these doubts lies a reality: today’s labour market is not built for women who return with something different to offer. Not for their wisdom, not for their human approach, not for their desire to contribute in another way.
Making a new place… or reclaiming the one that’s already yours?
Starting over? No. What these women want is not to restart from zero. They want to reconnect what they’ve lived with what they want to pass on.
They aspire to create something personal without losing stability, to value their journey without having to justify it, and to bring meaning without having to fight to exist.
But without structured guidance, without a validating perspective, transforming doubt into decision is difficult.
And what if you were simply led to believe that it was too late?
This generation of women learned they had to be perfect, efficient, loyal. They did not learn to doubt or to ask. And today, facing the idea of reinventing themselves, many ask:
“Will I still be able to do it… at my age?”
Is it really such a bad idea to believe that your experience is a strength and not a limitation? Is it too bold to say: I am ready to reclaim my place—but differently?
It’s about rebuilding confidence, not proving yourself again
Regaining confidence does not mean re-entering a race. It can simply mean putting words to what you already know, structuring your ideas into simple actions, being supported with humanity at your own pace, surrounding yourself with people who understand your journey without minimising it.
Confidence cannot be commanded. It is built within the right environment, a caring space, a structured path.
A society in transition needs women in transition.
In a world losing its bearings, your human skills become strategic: listening, transmitting, creativity, resilience. What you have to offer is rare. And deeply necessary.
So ladies, is it really so far-fetched to consider that you might be exactly what today’s professional world needs?
By Carole Tchanmene, founder of Buddy Créatif and CSAM professional orientation and integration solutions.
I support future and newly appointed women leaders seeking meaning after an intense career, and I bring the human dimension back to the heart of professional paths, at every age.
The data and trends mentioned are based on reliable public sources, including:
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Statbel – Labour Force Survey (LFS), thematic table on employment of people aged 55–64 in Belgium.
Figures were synthesised to shed light on the human, social and professional challenges faced by women in transition after an intense career.
