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will help you
answer that question.[/fusion_title][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ layout=”1_2″ spacing=”0″ center_content=”yes” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”left top” undefined=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” hover_type=”none” border_size=”0″ border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”no”][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=””]
We started DefyingGravity.life when we realized, during our own retirement journey, that we are the first generation of women of great accomplishment in the workplace to retire. Women are struggling to leave their hard-fought careers, in part because we worry about somehow being less after our career ends; it feels like we are losing a huge part of our foundational identity. We have called this the new feminist crisis—who will I be after my career ends?
DefyingGravity.life was born with the vision statement to solve this feminist crisis and a mission statement that includes cultivating new norms and creating new pathways through engaging conversation and expert advice.
Baby boomer women have been pioneers for their entire careers, going where no women have gone before. We always carried the additional responsibility of knowing we were paving the way for the next generation of women. This site is for us, as we face this difficult transition, and yet again, create a new path for those that follow, by creating a retirement journey that is as purposeful and exciting as our careers.
DefyingGravity.life was built because we know that this is a brave generation of women and when we come together to share and strategize and solve a problem, the possibilities are endless and the outcomes will be provocative.
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We’re so Glad you’re here
Joining our DefyingGravity.life community is a brave step, if only because you have acknowledged that you are confronting an issue so many successful baby boomer women are facing—what and who will I be if I leave my career? You have recognized that the support of others will be helpful. Here you will no longer feel alone nor isolated with your dilemma, nor will you have to explain it. The discussion, debate and insights start here. This should be fun.
Meet the Founders:
[fusion_modal_text_link name=”iris” class=”” id=””]Iris Goldfein[/fusion_modal_text_link]
[fusion_modal_text_link name=”monica” class=”” id=””]Monica Israel[/fusion_modal_text_link]
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CEO
CEOSimply stated, I have had a career beyond my wildest dreams. I was the first generation in my family to attend college and my mother and my schools pushed all the females into teaching; what a great career for a woman, you could be home with your children in the summer we were told. When I had the crazy thought that maybe I could be an attorney, my mother sighed and said, “I wish you would be the teacher and your brother the attorney.” I never mentioned it again—I went into teaching.
But something happened, teaching just wasn’t my destiny. A series of events conspired to move me out of teaching. I received a Master’s Degree from Northwestern in English, a foolish move in the ‘70’s if you wanted to be employed, but I got a job as a technical writer at one of the Big Eight and nine years later, I became a partner. I participated gleefully in the feminization of the workforce. I did many firsts at Cooper & Lybrand, later PricewaterhouseCoopers, including being one of the first women to run a major profit center, be on the Board and sit on the Management Committee and become a Vice Chairman. It was a glorious run, and the whole time I was able to push and wholeheartedly participate in what was then called diversity initiatives, particularly as they related to women. I ended my career as a CHRO for a company with 60,000+ employees in 20 countries and was privileged to learn so much about different cultures and make friends all over the world and yet again challenge the norms on women. I am still on the Advisory Council of Sutherland Global Services today
I learned so many things throughout my career, but my primary lesson, which came hard for me, was not to be afraid. We are worthy of that which comes to us and being our authentic selves can bring great reward.
It was unbelievably hard to leave my career and I saw that I was not alone in this dilemma. Women, for whom their career was central to their lives and who they were, could not fathom retiring to leisure alone and living without purpose and passion. I took my primary lesson, not to be afraid and decided to do something for and with my sisters. We have accomplished so much, gone where women have never gone before, and we are not going out with a whimper. We will not now be a bunch of timid older women, it isn’t who we are.
So DefyingGravity.life was born. My life-long friend, Monica was shoulder to shoulder with me on this new mission. My grown children are proud of this new chapter, my daughter recently told someone her mother was a “bad-ass” and I couldn’t be prouder. My husband, Jeff, believes that if anyone can do this it is me, and he knows with Monica by my side, we will be formidable. I want to continue to be unafraid and build DefyingGravity.life into something meaningful. This is my purpose and passion.
[/fusion_modal][fusion_modal name=”monica” title=”Monica Israel” size=”large” background=”” border_color=”” show_footer=”yes” class=”” id=””]
Co-Founder, COO
As I got ready for college there was no hesitation as to what curriculum path I would follow as there were, maybe, three or four main options that seemed available to women. Although I thought being a teacher was what I wanted, in retrospect, I realize that teaching was one of a very few careers I saw modeled by women. No high school counselor had other suggestions and my family was pleased with my choice. I was very disappointed when I realized this occupation was not right for me.
I graduated from University of Illinois at Chicago with a degree in Special Education. I taught elementary school for a few years but then moved on to my 38 year career, of selling textbooks and software to schools. I became active in professional organizations and had a rewarding career. I discovered strengths that no one would have guessed I had, least of all me. The sales profession is tough, requires real discipline and tenacity and a thick skin, I was the thinnest-skinned person I knew.
In 1970, sales was a man’s profession, it was just that simple. I will never forget attending a critical function in an all-male club that didn’t want to let me set up my exhibit. At times, I was my own worst enemy, trying to please and not standing up for myself. For example, I eagerly filled in for the secretary when she took her two-week vacation at winter break since schools were closed. I reasoned that I was available to take on her tasks of answering phone calls and typing letters. It wasn’t until a male manager saw how unfair this was and insisted that every sales representative (all men) take a turn working as a secretary during her absence. It was a learning experience for all of us, but today it would be unfathomable to let that happen. When I was pregnant, one of my male competitors told our customers that he understood, that I would be returning to my job after the baby was born. This was supposed to create the negative image of a working woman leaving her child behind to be cared for by a stranger—who would want to do business with such a monster? Well, it turned out that most of my customers were female, fighting a like battle—I had one of my best years ever.
I became active in professional organizations and I worked with other women entering the company to provide a more comfortable environment for all of us. We shot down stereotypes, the most egregious being that women couldn’t sell, take rejection and negotiate. We showed them we could do it all.
As I began contemplating retirement, I realized that there were so many roads I could take. I spent time talking with my dear friend Iris, a friend since childhood. We discussed all the opportunities ahead of us. I was excited to embrace this new freedom, but scared and anxious about the journey. After talking to many women in my situation, I realized I wasn’t alone in my feelings and discomfort. Iris had also found that there were many women who were excited but struggling with their thoughts about retirement. Through our conversations, we decided to create a virtual community to address these needs.
My husband Bob and I raised a son and daughter in Glenview, Illinois. Our two adult children are now exploring what life has to offer in New York and Illinois. I really enjoy spending time with family and friends, I am always energized being around smart women. Reading, yoga, baking and traveling, always make me happy. I really look forward to my new challenge working on DefyingGravity.Life. My hope is that it provides a meaningful vehicle for women who are looking for their life to be a continuing adventure.
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