Retirement Redefined

In this series, we celebrate MyNextSeason clients and friends who have charted fulfilling next seasons—reshaping traditional notions of life after an executive career. Far from a time of slowing down, these stories highlight retirement as an era of new opportunities, personal growth, and continued impact. 

HELP YOUR PEOPLE PLAN THEIR NEXT SEASON
“If you’re not talking to each other, if you’re not sharing your stresses and your goals and your hopes, things tend to go off in separate directions.”

Alan Kelly

Corporate Vice President, ExxonMobil
“When you’re working and working for someone else it’s hard to set boundaries about what you want to or are willing to do. But being able to say no and not feel bad about it has been so important in this phase of my life.”

Geri Thomas

Chief Diversity Officer & Georgia State President, Bank of America
“There are all these kids out there with enormous potential, but they don’t recognize it because there are barriers in the way. We want to take those barriers down.”

Doug Parker

Chairman/CEO, American Airlines
“I found myself concerned that my reputation, meaning, and relevancy would shift dramatically. But I found it didn’t. It just shifted to new areas of importance.”

Raghu Krishnamoorthy, PhD

Chief Human Resources Officer, GE
“Networking has been key to all of my opportunities, which means being organized and diligent, recognizing the focus and energy it involves, and not waiting for it to come to you.”

Laura Hay

KPMG Global Head of Insurance
“Finding new purpose and a new everyday cadence is a process and it’s different for everyone. Be kind to yourself.”

Leanne Caret

President & CEO, Boeing Defense, Space, and Security
“I’m now in a place where I have lots of white space on my calendar and the opportunity to pursue things I never had time for. For the first time in decades, I can say I’m in control of my schedule and it feels great!”

Rob Arning

KPMG Vice Chair and Foundation Chairman
“My advice is, go find it–seek out that opportunity that inspires you and allows you to leverage your professional skills in service to others.”

Ben Markham

Vice President of Engineering, ExxonMobil Research and Engineering
“There are plenty of unique opportunities out there, you just have to discover which is meant to be yours. Go with what you love, and you will find it.”

Vicki Escarra

Chief Marketing Officer, Delta Airlines
“I stopped focusing on retiring FROM the law and instead focused on retiring TO something else.”

Mark Shaiken

Senior Partner &. Board Member, Stinson LLP
“Often enough, I think we don’t let ourselves pursue that different thing, to break free from the mold we have in our heads of who we ‘should’ be or explore that less conventional outlet that has been tucked away within us for 30 years.”

Sam Fogleman

Global Lead Partner, KPMG
“I always thought I had no ego. Turns out, I was lying to myself. I missed the title. I missed the status. It’s humbling to start over.”

Andrew Ross

EVP, Strategy, New Business Development & Integration, The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc.