Plan Your Encore

At the pinnacle of your career, you've earned more than a title—you’ve gained perspective, influence, and a deep well of experience. Now, you're asking bigger questions: What’s next? How do I want to use what I’ve built? How can I create meaning beyond the metrics? Whether you're considering retirement, exploring board service, consulting, teaching, launching a passion project, or stepping into mission-driven leadership, your encore chapter is a chance to shape a future that’s as intentional as it is impactful.

This is not about slowing down—it’s about choosing what moves you forward with purpose.

At this stage, success may no longer be defined by promotions or profit. It’s time to ask:

• What kind of legacy do I want to leave?

• What energizes me—and what am I ready to release?

• Where can I make a difference while staying true to who I am?

🛠️ Try This:
Create a “Meaning Inventory.” List activities, roles, or initiatives from your career that gave you deep personal fulfillment. What patterns do you notice? What themes emerge about your values, talents, or desired impact?

Your encore doesn’t have to look like your previous roles. You might want to:

• Serve on nonprofit or corporate boards (📥 Prepare to Join a Board Worksheet)

• Consider fractional leadership roles (📥 Explore Fractional C-Suite Roles Worksheet

• Mentor the next generation of leaders  (📥Mentor the Next Generation of Leaders Worksheet)

• Teach, speak, or write  (📥Pathways to Teach Speak, or Write Worksheet)

• Start a business or social enterprise

• Consult in a way that aligns with your values

• Advocate for causes you care about

🛠️ Try This:
Map your expertise to potential opportunities. What industries, communities, or initiatives could benefit most from your experience? Who’s already doing that work—and how might you connect?

Your encore may blend professional, personal, and philanthropic goals. Instead of “retiring,” you may be redirecting your energy. This stage is a chance to rethink your calendar, your commitments, and how you want to invest your time.

🛠️ Try This:
Sketch a “Week in the Life” you’d be excited about. Include time for purpose-driven work, leisure, learning, health, and connection. What adjustments would help bring that vision to life?

Even when you’re ready, the transition into an encore role can bring unexpected emotions—loss of status, identity, or routine. On the practical side, you may be thinking about financial planning, healthcare, or the logistics of leaving your current role.

🛠️ Try This:
Have a candid conversation with a financial advisor, spouse, or trusted peer about your goals and needs. Consider working with an executive coach to support the emotional side of this transition—especially if you’re used to being in charge and rarely asking for help.

Your encore doesn’t need to be a grand gesture. It might start with a class you teach once a week, a nonprofit you advise, or a cause you volunteer for. Start small, listen deeply, and let your path evolve.

🛠️ Try This:
Say yes to one small opportunity that feels aligned with your vision. Then reflect: Did it feel meaningful? Sustainable? Energizing? Let those insights guide your next step.

This chapter is yours to define. Not by default, but by design. You have the freedom—and the wisdom—to build something that matters now more than ever. Whether it’s amplifying others, shaping systems, or simply spending your time in ways that feel meaningful, your encore can be your most fulfilling act yet.

➡️ Need a thought partner? Reach out to a Kelley career coach to explore what’s next.

Next Steps:

📥 Download the Planning Your Encore Career Worksheet