Emerging Elders
A 2-Day Virtual Bootcamp to Build Resilience, Grow Community, and Leverage Your Impact in the Second Half of Midlife
(Even in – especially in! – chaotic times.)
April 17 - 18, 2025
This is your season to step forward with purpose.
And on April 17-18, Chip Conley and an incredible panel of thought leaders at the forefront of reimagining midlife and aging with purpose and vitality – including the iconic Maria Shriver – will give you the tools and support to make it happen.
Rise into your role as an Emerging Elder and become a force for good – in your personal life, your family and community, and the world.
This two-day masterclass is designed to help you gain the resilience, confidence, inspiration, and community you need to make an impact and thrive in times of uncertainty – and help others do the same.
As an Emerging Elder, you've gone beyond traditional “midlife crises” and are standing on the edge of what could become your most purposeful, creative, and meaningful chapter yet.
Join us April 17-18 and you will learn from an inspiring roster of thought leaders in the fields of longevity, purpose, and relevance in the second half of life, who will share their wisdom on how to live with greater intention, vibrancy, and courage at any age.
Meet the Voices Guiding the Conversation on the Emerging Elders Movement
Maria Shriver
Journalist, Bestselling Author & Founder of The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement
A visionary journalist, author, and advocate, Maria Shriver is dedicated to empowering individuals in midlife and beyond. Through her work with The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement and The Sunday Paper, she spotlights changemakers and redefines what it means to age with strength and influence.
Maria will inspire you to grow, evolve, and fully embrace your wholeness as a pioneer redefining what it means to live your best life in your 50s and beyond.
Chip Conley
Founder of MEA (Modern Elder Academy) and Bestselling Author
Chip Conley has dedicated the second half of his life to redefining aging and guiding others through midlife transitions with wisdom, purpose, and joy. His books, including Learning to Love Midlife and The Making of a Modern Elder, have shaped how we view the later stages of life—not as a decline, but as a powerful time of reinvention.
Chip will help you reframe aging and embrace the opportunities that come with experience – so you can make a greater impact than ever before.
Louise Aronson, MD
Geriatrician, Professor & NYT Bestselling Author of Elderhood*
A Harvard-trained physician, Dr. Louise Aronson is one of the leading voices reshaping how we think about aging and healthcare. Her bestselling book, Elderhood has been described as “stunning, wise, and deeply human.”
Louise will help you rethink old age as a chapter filled with joy, wonder, frustration, and new possibilities by challenging outdated narratives and offering a bold, refreshing vision for what it truly means to grow older.
Dr. Bill Thomas
Physician, Entrepreneur & Aging Innovator
Named one of America’s Top 10 Innovators by The Wall Street Journal, Dr. Bill Thomas has reimagined the second half of midlife as a time of creativity, interdependence, and community-driven purpose.
Bill will challenge outdated views on aging, offering new perspectives on how independence, interdependence, and community can create a more fulfilling next chapter.
Dixon Chibanda, MD
Global Mental Health Innovator & Creator of the Friendship Bench
As one of just 12 psychiatrists in Zimbabwe, Dr. Dixon Chibanda has pioneered a groundbreaking, community-driven approach to mental health care: The Friendship Bench—which trains elders to provide therapy and emotional support.
Dixon will share the profound role that people in the second half of midlife can play in fostering connection, healing, and intergenerational wisdom – helping you see your own potential to uplift and guide others.
Pamela McLean, PhD
Co-founder of The Hudson Institute of Coaching
A master coach, clinical psychologist, and co-founder of the Hudson Institute of Coaching, Pamela McLean has spent decades helping people design meaningful post-work chapters and step fully into their next act.
Pam will help you embrace this phase with intention, resilience, and purpose. With deep insight and practical wisdom, she’ll help you reimagine what’s possible, so you can step forward with confidence and clarity.
Steven Forrest
Evolutionary Astrologer & Bestselling Author of The Inner Sky*
A world-renowned expert in evolutionary astrology, Steven Forrest teaches how cosmic patterns and personal destiny intersect, offering insight into life’s transitions. His books have been translated into multiple languages and are widely studied by those seeking self-discovery.
Steven will show you how to work with astrological forces to navigate this next chapter with clarity, confidence, and ease.
Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot
Harvard Professor, Sociologist, & Award-Winning Author on Human Development
A trailblazer in understanding the layers, subtexts, chaos, and contradictions of the human experience, Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot was the first African-American woman in Harvard’s history to have an endowed professorship in her name. Her work has profoundly shaped how we understand lifelong learning and personal evolution.
Sara will offer fresh insights on self-discovery and lifelong growth—helping you embrace new possibilities and shape your most meaningful chapter yet.
Michael Meade
Mythologist, Storyteller, and Founder of the Mosaic Multicultural Foundation
With a rare gift for blending mythology, storytelling, and deep psychology, Michael Meade helps people uncover the deeper meaning and wisdom embedded in aging. His work illuminates how fate, purpose, and personal genius shape our life’s journey.
Michael will guide you through the myths and ancestral wisdom that can help you embrace this next stage of life as a sacred and transformative passage.
Dr. Karen Skerrett, PhD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
With over 35 years of expertise in adult development and relational growth, Dr. Karen Skerrett is an internationally recognized leader in life transitions, resilience, and personal transformation. She specializes in helping individuals and couples harness their personal narratives to foster deeper meaning and purpose.
Karen will guide you in rewriting your life story—helping you reframe challenges, enhance resilience, and build a legacy that reflects who you truly are.
Dr. James Hollis
Jungian Psychoanalyst and Bestselling Author
A globally respected expert on personal growth and the inner journey of midlife and beyond, Dr. James Hollis is the author of over 20 books, including The Middle Passage and Living an Examined Life. His work helps individuals navigate the complexities of identity, purpose, and transformation in the second half of life.
James will offer deep psychological insights on how to shed outdated beliefs, embrace your authentic self, and find greater meaning in your later years.
Dr. Ken Dychtwald, PhD
Founder & CEO of Age Wave, Visionary on Aging & Longevity
For over 45 years, Dr. Ken Dychtwald has shaped the cultural, economic, and personal implications of longevity. His groundbreaking research and bestselling books have influenced Fortune 500 companies, policymakers, and thought leaders worldwide.
Ken will challenge conventional views on aging and inspire you to see this stage of life as a powerful new beginning filled with purpose, growth, and impact.
Maddy Dychtwald
Co-founder of Age Wave, Bestselling Author, and Longevity Expert
A pioneering researcher on the intersection of aging, wellness, and economic empowerment, Maddy Dychtwald has spent nearly four decades exploring how increased longevity is reshaping life, purpose, and financial security.
Maddy will share groundbreaking insights on expanding your healthspan, brainspan, and lifespan—so you can navigate your later years with confidence, vitality, and limitless possibility.
Our 2-Day Journey at a Glance
EMERGING ELDERS MASTERCLASS | April 17-18, 2025
Day 1 : Thursday, April 17
Session 1: The “Emerging Elder” as a Life Stage
We’re now living 30 years longer than we did 100 years ago. Discover how to make this new, active stage of life a time to flourish, contribute, and grow.
Chip Conley
9:00 - 9:30 AM PT
(12:00 - 12:30 PM ET)
Karen Skerrett
9:30 - 10:00 AM PT
(12:30 - 1:00 PM ET)
James Hollis
10:00 - 10:30 AM PT
(1:00 - 1:30 PM ET)
Session 2: What Gets Better with Age?
It’s time to flip the outdated narrative that aging means decline or irrelevance—embrace it instead as a time of wisdom, connection, flow, and growth.
Dr. Ken & Maddy Dychtwald
3:00 - 3:30 PM PT
(6:00 - 6:30 PM ET)
Michael Meade
3:30 - 4:00 PM PT
(6:30 - 7:00 PM ET)
Bill Thomas
4:00 - 4:30 PM PT
(7:00 - 7:30 PM ET)
Day 2 : Friday, April 18
Session 3: What’s the Value of Elders to Society?
Explore creative ways to cultivate connection, healing, and intergenerational wisdom into society – and why it matters more than you think.
Dixon Chibanda
9:00 - 9:30 AM PT
12:00 - 12:30 PM ET
Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot
9:30 - 10:00 AM PT
12:30 - 1:00 PM ET
Louise Aronson
10:00 - 10:30 AM PT
1:00 - 1:30 PM ET
Session 4: Owning our Elder Wisdom
Now more than ever the value of owning your wisdom has never been more important or needed. Learn how you can give back and make an impact.
Steven Forrest
3:00 - 3:30 PM PT
6:00 - 6:30 PM ET
Pam McLean
3:30 - 4:00 PM PT
6:30 - 7:00 PM ET
Maria Shriver
4:00 - 4:30 PM PT
7:00 - 7:30 PM ET
Chip’s final wrap-up
4:30 PM PT
7:30 PM ET
Don’t just absorb new insights— put them into practice
Enhance your masterclass experience with the Emerging Elders Masterclass Workbook, a powerful guide designed to help you apply what you’ve learned in real life.
Inside, you’ll find:
Because true transformation happens when knowledge turns into action.
Is This Masterclass for You?
This experience is designed for forward-thinking rebels and pioneers who refuse to settle for outdated narratives about aging. If any of the following resonate, this masterclass was made for you.
If this sounds like you, join us for this transformative 2-day masterclass and step boldly into your next chapter.
Brought to you by MEA, the World’s First Midlife Wisdom School
MEA (Modern Elder Academy) is on a mission to reframe aging and help people thrive in midlife and beyond. Our science-backed workshops and programs are designed to give you the tools, practices, and support to navigate midlife challenges and find joy, meaning, and fulfillment in the second half of life.
Founded by entrepreneur, author, and world-renowned hospitality leader Chip Conley in 2017, MEA’s proven methodology was developed in collaboration with academics from Stanford, Harvard, UC Berkeley, and Yale, who have dedicated themselves to understanding modern midlife.
Together we have developed and refined experiential tools and practices that combine the social science of longevity and the art of intentional living to help people in midlife curate a second half of life that’s as joyful, exciting, and meaningful as it is long.
Here’s what people say about our programs…
MEA’s wisdom, kindness, sense of community, and purpose will stay with you for years.
Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley
MEA is a new kind of midlife wisdom school dedicated to helping people chart this new map of life.
Laura Carstensen, Director of the Stanford Center on Longevity
I am a huge fan of MEA, which is a great initiative.
Andrew Scott, Professor of Economics at London Business School
Millions are moving through midlife… Enter MEA, a beacon in the wilderness.
Marc Freedman, Founder / CoCEO of CoGenerate
You’d think we'd have every technique for human development already invented, but MEA has really created something novel and socially brilliant.
Paul Hawken, author of NYT bestsellers Drawdown and Blessed Unrest
Living With Purpose Will Increase Your Longevity & Health Span
Studies show that older adults who have a clear sense of purpose are less likely to develop cognitive issues, heart attacks, and strokes and are more likely to live longer than people without this kind of underlying motivation.
That’s why embracing your role as an Emerging Elder and pursuing a life of meaning, purpose, and adventure will not only bring greater joy and fulfillment to your life – it will also help you live longer and healthier for decades to come.
What You’ll Gain from This Transformational Experience When You Register Today
Actionable Wisdom
No fluff. Just proven frameworks from renowned experts who have helped thousands embrace aging with purpose and clarity.
Diverse Perspectives
Learn from Harvard professors, bestselling authors, visionary entrepreneurs, and world-class thought leaders offering a 360-degree view of what’s possible in this stage of life.
Practical Tools
Walk away with concrete, easy-to-implement strategies for enhancing your vitality, confidence, and creativity—so you can start making changes immediately.
Science-backed Insights
Discover the latest research on aging, purpose, longevity, and brain health, empowering you to live with greater intention and impact.
Expert Guidance
Gain actionable advice from trusted voices who’ve helped thousands navigate life’s biggest transitions, from career shifts to personal reinvention.
Holistic Approach
Thrive in every dimension of life, including physical vitality, emotional resilience, meaningful relationships, and purpose-driven work.
Proven Pathways
Access real-world strategies that have transformed the lives of midlife professionals, creatives, and changemakers seeking deeper meaning and contribution.
Lasting Transformation
This isn’t just about inspiration—it’s about equipping you with practical frameworks for real, sustainable change in every area of your life.
Get Life-Changing Tools, Strategies, and Expert Guidance – For Less Than the Cost of a Dinner Out
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