Cultural expectations surrounding the elderly are being challenged today, and with good reason!
While it was the norm to slow down and retreat into a quieter life post-retirement, more men and women are finding purpose and joy in doing the opposite.
WisdomCircle honours such men and women by shining light on their journey through an inspiring series called “Wisdom Stories”. These people have successfully smashed stereotypes, and their stories remind us that life should be lived to the fullest, no matter what age or stage.
I am an advertising and marketing veteran who has embraced teaching, coaching, and mentoring post my full-time work life.
We interviewed Ambi M G Parameswaran, one of the honourees of 58 Over 58, a collaborative endeavour spearheaded by WisdomCircle and INK. The mission is to spotlight the narratives of 58 remarkable individuals annually, meaningfully engaged in their post-retirement phase.
What was a key moment that defined your current path?
I had been interested in teaching for a long time and when SPJIMR invited me to be an Adjunct Professor of Marketing, it set me on this new path.
How would you define your purpose? And why did you choose it?
I feel I can be of help and value to the young students, executives and entrepreneurs with my brand of wisdom. Working with them also keeps me eager to learn more.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I have always thought that it is critical to keep learning. As I get older this is becoming even more important in our AI-infested VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) world.
Is there anyone you look up to, to help chart your post-retirement journey?
Many have inspired me on my journey, including veterans like R Sridhar and several of my old clients.
What are the current gaps in the post retirement eco-system? Where is the pressing need for attention?
There is a misnomer that once you hit 58 or 60 your use to society and business is over. This needs to be dealt with. There are no platforms that can help someone who is 58+ to look for interesting engagements; there is a need to evangelise the Gig Work for seniors.
What would your advice be to the WisGen (Wisdom Generation)?
A wider outreach among the MSME ecosystem in India. All of them need help to grow faster. They all have the appetite but are lacking in managerial talent. They cannot hire full-time executives. Some of them are distrustful of consultants. WisdomCircle can help connect this vast MSME base and communicate with domain experts across a wide spectrum.
Why is leaving a legacy important for you? What would you like yours to be?
I tried to impart knowledge about advertising, branding and marketing with a unique Indian market/consumer perspective.
3 words that describe your life right now.
Learning. Teaching. Growing.
What else would you like to say, that we haven’t covered yet
We should enjoy what we are doing, or not doing 🙂
Read more Wisdom Stories on WisdomCircle
