Powering the New Era of Aging

Barbara is an award-winning leader and age-positive keynote reframing how we see age in work, life and culture.

She helps audiences challenge age bias, unlock the power of experience, and see age as an advantage at every stage.

About Barbara
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As one of today’s foremost age-friendly voices, Barbara Brooks shapes how we talk about it.

Her work sits at the intersection of culture and visibility, bringing straight talk, insight, and perspective to stages, screens, and conversations. With data, storytelling, and a sharp sense of humor, Barbara helps audiences rethink aging and see experience as power, not a problem.

There’s a Blind Spot Costing the Economy Billions Every Year

BoomingGenXMillennialZ and the Cost of Age Bias

When experience and emerging talent are treated as opposites instead of allies, organizations weaken, culture stalls, and real growth gets left behind.

Bottom line. Organizations lose connection, credibility, collaboration, and the real-world insight that actually drives progress.

The cost shows up everywhere.

Missed ideas. Slower decisions. Stalled teams. Declining loyalty. Revenue plateaus. And women with influence, leadership potential, and economic power are left on the sidelines instead of shaping what comes next.

This is exactly where Barbara Brooks’ work lives.

More About Barbara

Today’s Most In-Demand Conversations

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Barbara Brooks focuses on three of the most relevant conversations affecting most today.

  1. Intergenerational connection and collaboration

  2. Women 40+ and the power of experience

  3. Aging, visibility, and what comes next

These are not niche topics. They sit at the center of a major cultural and economic shift happening in the U.S. and around the world.

They are redefining how people show up, lead, create, and influence at every stAGE of life.

Let’s be real for a minute.

Age. The Last Acceptable ‘ism

It’s whispered about in workplaces and ignored in marketing, and the cost is massive. In 2018 alone, age discrimination against workers 50+ cost the U.S. economy 850 billion dollars in lost productivity and opportunity. At the same time, women 40+ are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs, and professionals over 45 now make up nearly half the workforce.

So, why do we continue to treat age as a liability?

Barbara helps companies flip the darn script from age bias to age brilliance.

All ages.

Barbara Brooks with curly hair and a cheerful smile, wearing a black MTV t-shirt and jeans, is sitting at a counter in a brightly lit, modern indoor space, possibly a cafe or lounge, with a relaxed pose and her hand touching her face.
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Barbara’s Featured Across Leading Media and Invited by Brands and Women’s Conferences

You’re a Visionary

You want something different.

Something your guests feel the moment a speaker takes the stage. Fresh insight. New language. Sense of humor and a message that actually moves them.

Hot topics people book Barbara for…

Career Acceleration | Breakthrough framework for career growth and advancement.

  • “The Power of 4: How BoomingGenXMillennialZ People Can Work Better Together.” Multi-gen workplaces innovate, collaborate, and strengthen the bottom line. Full stop.

  • “The Return on Experience: Turning Age and Experience into Strategic Assets.” Why a woman’s age is an advantage and how to make an impact.

Workplace Innovation | Transforming company culture, community, and driving change.

  • “The Future Now is 40, 50, 60+: Women are the Blueprint” How women are reshaping work, leadership, and what comes next.

Personal Branding: | Gaining more visibility and establishing thought leadership

  • Personal Branding for Career Growth & Opportunity: The influence of personal branding for women [and people] who want to get ahead of the game and have more opportunities come their way.

Technology & Innovation: | Leveraging emerging trends in culture, workplace, and community for competitive advantage.

  • “The $15 Trillion Opportunity: Marketing to Women Over 40” Why women 40 and over are the economic force companies cannot afford to overlook.

See Keynote Overviews

GRAY STREAK. BIG SPEAK.

GRAY STREAK. BIG SPEAK.

Barbara Brooks, "Thought Starter" and diversity speaker on ageism, age inclusion women in the workplace.

Barbara’s not just here to talk about age

She’s Here to Change the Game with You

She brings magnetic energy, actionable ideas, humor, and the kind of thought that starts real talk that gets people leaning in.

Barbara is the founder of SecondActWomen - the home of Living Agefully and a community of over 23,000 people. She’s an award-winning speaker, entrepreneur, and former corporate marketing maven with a track record of breaking molds and blazing new paths. She brings bold ideas and big energy to every stage she graces.

Named one of Colorado’s 25 Most Powerful Women in Business by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce and a Top 10 Leader in Diversity by the Denver Business Journal, and now a state of Colorado AARP executive council member, she has been recognized as an Influencer in Aging by Next Avenue and featured in Forbes, MarketWatch, Fast Company, Denver Post, NBC and Colorado Public Radio to name a few.

She does not just talk about Living Agefully, she lives it. After all, beauty has no age.

Get the rest of her story

Trusted by…

Hyatt featuring Barbara Brooks, is leading a discussion for ERG, and a diversity speaker on ageism, age inclusion women in the workplace.
Barbara Brooks spoke at Zayo and it's the Zayo logo in purple text on a black background.
Western Union featuring Barbara Brooks, is leading a discussion for ERG, and a diversity speaker on ageism, age inclusion women in the workplace.
Startup Grind, powered by Google for Entrepreneurs, featuring Barbara Brooks leading a discussion for ERG, and a diversity speaker on ageism, age inclusion women in the workplace.
Blend company logo. Barbara Brooks keynote speaker for Blend event on leadership and age inclusion.
Frontier Airlines Barbara Brooks is leading a discussion for ERG, and a diversity speaker on ageism, age inclusion women in the workplace.
Entertainment Community Fund" featuring Barbara Brooks, is leading a discussion for ERG, and a diversity speaker on ageism, age inclusion women in the workplace.
Energize Colorado, featuring Barbara Brooks, is leading a discussion for ERG, and a diversity speaker on ageism, age inclusion women in the workplace.
Vail Valley Partnership logo. Barbara Brooks guest speaker for the Vail Valley business and leadership community.
Denver Economic Development & Opportunity, featuring Barbara Brooks, is leading a discussion for ERG, and a diversity speaker on ageism, age inclusion women in the workplace.
Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network featuring Barbara Brooks, is leading a discussion for ERG, and a diversity speaker on ageism, age inclusion women in the workplace.
First Bank featuring Barbara Brooks, is leading a discussion for ERG, and a diversity speaker on ageism, age inclusion women in the workplace.
Ethical Leadership Forum logo. Barbara Brooks featured speaker on age inclusive leadership and workplace culture.
Microsoft and Barbara Brooks are leading a discussion for ERG, and a diversity speaker on ageism, age inclusion women in the workplace.
Denver Startup Week featuring Barbara Brooks, is leading a discussion for ERG, and a diversity speaker on ageism, age inclusion women in the workplace.
featuring Barbara Brooks, is leading a discussion for ERG, and a diversity speaker on ageism, age inclusion women in the workplace.
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What They’re Saying About Working Together

“Infectious. Enthusiastic. Funny. Relatable. Personable. Actionable. Smart. Insightful. Must-have.”

  • gayle pottle in black top with blonde hair

    "Barbara is dynamic. She left our audience uplifted and we were thrilled to have her open our summit."

    Gayle Pottle, MS, CFRE, President, AdventHealth Rocky Mountain Foundation

  • quinn slaughter

    “She has a gift of teaching others how to blend personal needs with business needs.”

    Quinn Slaughter, Senior People Strategy, Western Union

  • katie johnson, hyatt

    “I highly recommend her. She's truly a powerful speaker and motivator.”

    Katie Johnson, Vice President Global Branding at Hyatt

  • ann robinson, vail valley partnership holding a sign

    “Wow! Did she deliver. Her keynote was eye-opening, data-driven and fun! 5 out of 5 stars."

    Ann Robinson, Vail Valley Partnership

  • sean choi

    "Barbara gave an informative keynote. I recommend her to those navigating generational dynamics in the workplace."

    Sean Choi, Senior Vice President, HR at FirstBank

Who Books Barbara Brooks?

  • Employee Group and Social Responsibility Folks

  • Event Planners of Women’s Conferences, Wellness Summits and Industry Organizers

  • Leadership Retreat and Professional Development Series Organizers

Wherever honest conversations need to happen, she brings the mic.

Book a Discovery Call
Get Her Topic Overviews
BizLifeCon with Barbara Brooks leading a discussion for ERG, and a diversity speaker on ageism, age inclusion women in the workplace.

She helps organizations tap into the superpower of women and intergen teams.

It’s the now. Not just the future.

Inspire real change and audience energy.

Keynotes

  • Break Through Barriers: Tackling age bias head-on, debunking generational myths, and sparking real conversations that lead to meaningful action.

  • Foster Innovation: Showing how multi-generational teams fuel creativity, collaboration, belonging, and better business outcomes.

  • Energize Your Guests: Giving people the tools and confidence to help every person at every stage feel seen and valued.

Barbara Brooks leading a hands-on workshop with an engaged group of participants.

Deliver hands-on learning that sticks.

Sessions

  • Tailored Solutions: Customized workshops designed around your specific goals and challenges.

  • Practical Tools: Participants leave with clear, actionable strategies that improve collaboration and inclusion.

  • Lasting Results: Build stronger teams, deepen understanding across generations, and create cultures that support everyone.

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