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Hélène Stelian, a wife and mother of 24-year-old twin daughters, is the Midlife Mentor with a passion for facilitating personal development in women 40+. She’s a recovering marketing executive turned certified life coach who’s converted her 20-year fascination with psychology and human behavior into her mission-led profession. Through her THRIVE community, she helps women 40+ deepen their journeys of self-discovery and growth—and create their next chapter with courage and intention.

Tell us a little about your background.

Armed with an MBA, I spent a decade in corporate America. After my daughters were born, I was privileged to be able to stay home with them and volunteer with non-profit organizations. 

I reached a turning point when the girls were teenagers, and I was approaching 50. I felt a loss of identity and wondered, who am I beyond my roles as a mother, wife, and community organizer? We had also moved from the suburbs to downtown Chicago, adding to my feelings of loss and anxiety about the future. 

I found that there were many other women like me who were feeling a sense of unease in midlife. They knew they still had a lot of productive years ahead of them, but they felt lost about how to put them to good use. Curious about how others had tackled this “midlife malaise,” I started a blog where I interviewed more than 300 women who had successfully navigated this transitional phase of life. They had made big changes, personally or professionally, and had gained a deep sense of fulfillment. 

After a year of blogging, I felt greater clarity about my path forward. I wanted to take a more active role in helping women, so I went back to school and became a certified life coach. Today, I work exclusively with women in midlife and beyond to help them thrive in their next chapter—because it’s never too late! 

What are some challenges women face in midlife?

There are external stressors (like the empty nest and marital strain), aging stressors (like menopause and physical limitations), identity stressors (like dealing with our mortality and asking big existential questions). But we also have so much more experience, wisdom, and resources to pull on that make this time of life ripe with opportunity.

What advice do you have for women navigating the second half of life?

In midlife, it’s time to put ourselves first—after so many years of serving the needs of our families and communities—and to do the critical work of self-reflection and exploration. To ask the big questions: Who am I? What do I want out of the rest of my life? Who are my people? Where do I belong? What do I want to contribute to the world? 

My goal in my work is to provide a forum that facilitates self-discovery and personal growth for women in midlife and beyond. It’s time to let go of regrets and live intentionally. 

What can people expect at this session?

We’ll talk about the myths and challenges of midlife and explore the opportunities that allow us to be our best selves. You’ll learn about the stages of transitions and the building blocks of happiness, then we’ll unpack 10 ways to make the most out of the next chapter of your life. I’ll also offer you a free ebook with a summary of all 10 ways, including lots of valuable resources. 

If you’re an action-oriented woman in midlife who’s ready to create your next chapter with passion and purpose, join Guest Speaker Hélène for her upcoming session, Women in Midlife: Making the Most of Our “Second Adulthood.”