Press & Publicity

April 25, 2022

Dr. Kelley Mondesiré, CEO of White Wolf Advisory Services, LLC has been invited to speak to a large cohort of female executives turned entrepreneurs.  Dr. Mondesiré, a motivational speaker and influencer, will be speaking about her professional journey from successful international award-winning Executive Producer in the television industry to becoming a physician and building Integrative Medical divisions for large health organizations to her current role as a branding and marketing/sales consultant to clients within the medical device industry.  Her lecture will focus on the challenges female executives over the age of 50 are confronted with and how they can transform these challenges into successful roadmaps to successful entrepreneurship. 

Ageism in the workforce is not new. Both men and women over the age of 50 are affected. Instead of cherishing wisdom, experience and know-how, many executives are put out to pasture at the young age of 50. Their salaries are higher than their younger counterparts and particularly in the United States, the older employee is considered to be ‘a dog who is unable to learn new tricks.’  Female executives are particularly affected by ageism and many are turning to entrepreneurship – and quite successfully!

According to the Women 50+ in the NYC Workforce: Tackling Economic Vulnerability report:

• Women over 50 are more likely than men over 50 to work part-time, and are therefore less likely to receive benefits
• The gender wage gap has widened for women over 50, increasing by five percent
• After age 55, the number of women participating in the workforce relative to their male counterparts, decreases with age
• Women over 50 are less likely to be prepared for retirement:
• 46 percent of women aren’t confident in their ability to retire, compared to 31 percent of men
• Women typically have lower IRA balances at every age compared to men — starting at 50, women only have saved 76% of a male’s IRA balance
• According to Payscale, women tend to reach peak earnings at age 44 with an average salary of $66,700, while men reach peak earnings at 55 with an average salary of $101,200

Entrepreneurship has been a self-driven solution for women who face these challenges with their businesses generating $50 billion in sales. New York City is committed to helping them get their businesses off the ground. Linked here.

Women.nyc, an initiative powered by New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), and the NYC Department of Small Businesses Services (SBS) launched NewVenture 50+, a five-week immersive entrepreneurship program offered to give women over 50 the tools they need to launch their own businesses. The program teaches participants how to refine their business concepts, draft a strong business plan, and gain the knowledge and skills they need to launch a profitable small business. This highly competitive class is based on the renowned FastTrack® and WE NYC curriculums and is offered to participants at no cost.  From free, expert legal advice, to networking and mentorship, to financial assistance, women.nyc offers a growing portfolio of resources for working women.  Classes are taught online biweekly by Geri Stengel (@GeriStengel).  

About NYCEDC New York City Economic Development Corporation creates shared prosperity across New York City’s five boroughs by strengthening neighborhoods and creating good jobs. NYCEDC works with and for communities to provide them with the resources they need to thrive, and we invest in projects that increase sustainability, support job growth, develop talent, and spark innovation to strengthen the City’s competitive advantage. To learn more they can be found on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.