Unlocking Generativity to Shape Future Leaders

Leadership NOW Podcast with host Dan Pontefract

What happens when we stop treating aging as a decline and start viewing it as a launchpad for impact? And what if mentorship isn’t just for the young—but the key to unleashing untapped wisdom at every stage of life?

In a recent episode of Leadership NOW with Dan Pontefract, I joined the show to talk about mentorship, midlife, generativity, and my book The Mentorship Edge(Wiley, 2024). What unfolded was a masterclass in purpose, legacy, and why we all need to rethink how mentorship really works.

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🌱 From Frailty to Generativity: The Origin of The Mentor Project

Dr. Heiser began her career studying topics most of us try to avoid—frailty, dementia, and depression. But a simple question from a conference attendee changed everything: "Are you just putting a Band-Aid on our future?"

That moment sparked a new mission: to uncover what we have to look forward to as we age. What she found was a powerful emotional milestone known as generativity—a psychological stage identified by Erik Erikson where people feel compelled to give back, to mentor, to leave a legacy.

That realization led to a deep dive into studying mentorship from the mentor’s perspective, and ultimately, the founding of The Mentor Project, a nonprofit that pairs world-class experts—from astronauts to inventors—with students around the globe. It’s mentorship reimagined, where no student pays a dime, and mentors find purpose in sharing what they’ve learned.

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