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4-Quarter LivesSqueezing the juice from longer lives and careers. And sharing the lessons. Author: Avivah Wittenberg-Cox
You are likely to live longer than you think. Are you ready? Science has gifted us ever longer, 100-year lives. This impacts everything! From couples and careers - to companies and countries. Well interview the experts who are exploring the consequences and the individuals applying it to their own lives and choices. Generational and gender expert Avivah Wittenberg-Cox talks with people designing new ways of living, working and loving at all ages across lifes 4 quarters. elderberries.substack.com Language: en Genres: Business, Careers, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Prof. Herminia Ibarra: Working Identity: How People Actually Change
Thursday, 23 April, 2026
In this episode of the Four Quarter Lives podcast, we revisit a conversation between Avivah Wittenberg Cox and Professor Herminia Ibarra of the London Business School. As we navigate the realities of career shifts, Herminia shares invaluable insights on why these transitions often take years, not months, and the importance of managing expectations during this journey. We confront the myth of discovering a “true self” and explore how identity is actually mutable, shaped through experimentation. Herminia guides us through the often “dark, messy middle” of career change — a period of confusion and uncertainty that paradoxically serves as a fertile ground for growth. We also discuss the significance of connecting with others in similar phases and practical steps to initiate change, such as reactivating dormant networks and embarking on side projects.Herminia Ibarra is Charles Handy Professor of Organizational Behavior at London Business School. Prior to joining LBS, she served as Professor on the INSEAD and Harvard Business School faculties. An authority on leadership and career transition, Thinkers50 ranks Herminia among the top management thinkers in the world. She is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Expert Network, a judge for the Financial Times Business Book of the Year Award, a Fellow of the British Academy, the recipient of the Academy of Management’s Scholar-Practitioner Award for her research’s contribution to management practice, and Governor of the London Business School.Herminia is the author of best-selling books, Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader and Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career. She writes regularly in leading academic journals and business publications including the Harvard Business Review, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times, is the author of numerous best-selling business case studies, and speaks internationally on leadership and organizational transformation. A native of Cuba, Herminia received her M.A. and Ph.D. from Yale University, where she was a National Science Fellow.Some Useful Links:* Herminia Ibarra’s book on career transitions: Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career* Herminia’s website* Harvard Business Review Article: Why Career Transition is So Hard* Harvard Business Review Article: Reinventing Your Career – When It’s Not Just About You* Harvard business Review Article: 5 Barriers to Career change – And How to Overcome Them* London Business School website Get full access to 4-Quarter Lives | Elderberries at elderberries.substack.com/subscribe
