When I say invest in yourself, I don’t mean another AI course, eMBA, or leadership retreat in the Rockies.

I mean literally: invest in your appearance, fitness, and energy.

Why? Because ageism is alive and well — for both women and men.
Pretending it doesn’t exist won’t make it go away.

As a (very honest) friend working at a large bank told me:

“I’m doing everything I can to look young. In my group, no one is overweight and no one is above 40.”

Scary? Maybe.
 Realistic? Absolutely.

In today’s corporate world, “career longevity” has a very literal dimension:
 🧴 Skincare counts.
 💇‍♀️ Image matters.
 🏋️ Staying fit signals energy, drive, and resilience.

You might think this is superficial — and you’d be right.
 But it’s also real. And ignoring it doesn’t make it go away.

So while you’re upgrading your skills, don’t forget to upgrade yourself.
Because in the modern workplace, the survival of the fittest is not a metaphor.

Listen to my latest podcast for the full take — from ageism to GenAI layoffs and what it really takes to stay in the game 👇

#CareerLongevity #Leadership #Ageism #FutureOfWork #PersonalBrand #ProfessionalGrowth #RealityCheck #ValueCreation

Peggy Van de Plassche is a value creation strategist and senior advisor with over 20 years of experience in private equity, financial services, healthcare, and technology. She works with investment firms, boards, and C-suite leaders to accelerate portfolio company performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value. Peggy specializes in the execution of complex value creation plans—spanning capital allocation, digital enablement, transaction advisory, and leadership alignment. Her work consistently bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators maximize EBITDA and enterprise value. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, she also brings deep expertise in public-private partnerships and institutional capital deployment—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.

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