Inside the Second 50 Life Design experience – and why we are developing an ongoing program

Second 50 has sparked and encouraged so many wonderful ideas, meaningful conversations and brave transformations. And over the past year, we’ve watched one of the most extraordinary examples of what women can create when we support and encourage each other.

Our first and second Second 50 Life Design programs brought together cohort of women, meeting on Zoom — and also in trios in between — to consciously design a life that feels authentic, energising and aligned with who they are now, and who they are becoming.

The program was created for women in the second half of life, in collaboration with Second 50 foundation member and generous life design expert and coach, Gill McLaren, author of Think.Plan.Live®.

Our inaugural program exceeded all expectations, and we offered it again in 2026, and now we are building an ongoing program for everyone. If the idea of shaping your next chapter alongside other smart, motivated and curious women speaks to something inside you, you’ll be able to do that in Second 50 very soon.

Why Second 50 is the right time for life design

Our Second 50 is a rare and empowering invitation to pause, take stock and consciously shape the years ahead. We arrive here with a half-life of experience and wisdom behind us — and, hopefully, many adventures, reinventions and transitions still to come.

These years often bring evolving careers, shifting family roles, changing priorities and new relationships with our own energy and wellbeing.

Reflecting and realigning our lives consciously (and conscientiously) isn’t a luxury. It’s what allows us to make the most of the rest of our lives.

“I was telling myself that life design is a thing of privilege… but I realised that’s not true. Life design isn’t just for people with money.” – 2025 Life Design participant

Life design as a collective journey

While life design is deeply personal, the journey becomes even more powerful when shared. We saw this clearly in our cohort programs, which grew into something deep and meaningful.

Participants drew on Gill’s proven Think.Plan.Live® framework through live workshops, self-paced lessons, the audiobook and a suite of practical tools. Her methodology has been shaped over more than a decade of coaching, and it works.

But the real magic also came from doing this together.

In trios, Second 50 women supported one another to explore values, strengths and energy — and then connect those insights to uncover their own unique life integrators, the foundation of designing a life that truly fits.

Surrounded by other women who listened deeply and shared honestly, participants replaced noisy self-doubt with grounded conversations and choices. They put themselves at the centre of their own lives, often for the first time in years.

“What I’ve been most grateful for is the collective wisdom of this amazing group of women. I feel very, very blessed to have had this opportunity.” – 2025 Life Design participant

Every Zoom session brought new insights, fresh clarity and gentle nudges that helped women deepen their reflections. Together, they co-created an energising experience of discovery, experimentation and integration. It was brilliant.

What Life Integration means

At its heart, Gill’s Life Design approach teaches a life skill: to truly know yourself so you can confidently be yourself.

Life integration brings the different pieces of your life into alignment using your values, strengths and energy as anchors. Instead of juggling everything in separate boxes, women discovered the deeper patterns that allow a life to feel more authentic and energising.

As Gill explains:

“Instead of striving for balance — a constant juggling act — life integration is about conscious alignment.”

And from participants:

“This was exactly why I joined Second 50 — to start planning consciously the next fifty years.” – 2025 Life Design participant

Life design helps you make choices that connect with what truly matters. Once you see it, as many women said, you can’t unsee it.

Gill often reminds us that energy is the currency of life integration:

“If your plan doesn’t energise you, you probably need to look at it again.”

Finding your own answers

One of the most powerful aspects of the program was realising that there is no single ‘right way’ to design a life. There are no formulas and no blueprints.

Gill’s tools offer structure, guidance and inspiration — but each woman finds her own rhythm.

By the end of the program, many participants had created their first Life Integration Plan; others are still refining theirs in their trios or on their own. That’s exactly how it should be. A Life Integration Plan is a living practice that evolves with you.

“I’ve really enjoyed going back and reviewing — and re-listening — to parts of the program.” – 2025 Life Design participant

Clarity, confidence and practical tools were just some of the gifts women walked away with. More importantly, they left with a renewed sense of agency — and the knowledge that growth is easier, richer and more joyful when shared.

Some key take-outs

Participants shared many insights that helped them sense what mattered most. Here are a few:

Energy over time:
Time is finite, but energy is renewable when we know how to protect and restore it.
“I’m learning to design my week for energy, not time.”

Evolving values as the compass:
Knowing what we truly value makes decisions easier.
“Realising my triggers weren’t random — they were my values being crossed — was life-changing.”

Small steps, big shifts:
Transformation often comes from tiny, conscious choices.
“I used to feel guilty about taking time to recharge… now I know it’s the most productive thing I can do.”

Progress over perfection:
Letting go of ‘getting it right’ makes room for curiosity and joy.
“High-performing women don’t get enough joy from progress. This reminded me to celebrate it.”

Connection brings learning to life:
Trio conversations created trust, safety and lasting friendships.
“We cried and laughed in our trios. Those conversations changed me.”

Building on our experience and success

The program’s success has given us rich insights into how we can continue refining and improving it. We are currently building an evergreen version that can still run as a cohort, but be more accessible to more women.

“The timing of the emails and lessons kept me on track without pressure… the right amount — enough to keep me engaged, but never too much.” – 2025 Life Design participant