Dr Isabella Moore CBE Unlocks Entrepreneurial Spirit in Later Life with Game-Changing Training Program
Photo: Dr Isabella Moore CBE, 77, inspiring older generations with her groundbreaking entrepreneurial program, Later Creator, focused on confidence and skill-building for the over-50s.
Breaking Ageist Barriers in business
Dr Isabella Moore CBE’s Later Creator program challenges ageism, builds confidence, and equips over-50s with skills to succeed in entrepreneurship, inspired by her own experiences and groundbreaking research.
At 77, most would imagine settling into retirement, but Dr Isabella Moore CBE is rewriting the script and proving that entrepreneurial passion has no age limit. The Warwickshire-based trailblazer is gearing up to launch her transformative Later Creator training programme, designed exclusively to empower those aged 50 and above to venture into the world of entrepreneurship.
Set to debut on September 11th, Later Creator’s launch event promises a power-packed panel discussion featuring luminaries in business, education, and politics. With topics like motivations behind later-life entrepreneurship, ageism in business, barriers such as finance and digital skills, and government policies in focus, the initiative aims to challenge societal perceptions and carve out space for older entrepreneurs.
Dr Moore’s remarkable career trajectory underscores her authority in facilitating such change. From founding Comtec Translations, which she resurrected with her daughter at 60, to her tenure as CEO of the National Centre for Languages and Vice President positions with Eurochambres and Business for New Europe, her résumé shines with achievements. Notably, she became the first female president of both the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and the British Chambers of Commerce, cementing her legacy in the business realm.
Her story, however, goes beyond accolades. As the recipient of a CBE in 2003 for services to commerce and Honorary Doctorates recognizing her contributions to language services and women’s enterprise, Dr Moore has not only excelled but also advocated for others. In 2005, she chaired the panel for the inaugural Women’s Business Council, a pivotal moment in her lifelong mission to elevate disadvantaged groups in business.
The Spark That Ignited Later Creator
Dr Moore’s own experiences inspired her. At 60, as she navigated reviving Comtec while juggling family responsibilities, she realized the unique challenges older entrepreneurs face. This culminated in her PhD research, which delves into gender dynamics, motivation, and societal perceptions about starting a business later in life. Armed with insights from her work, she established The Olderpreneur Alliance, a social enterprise supporting entrepreneurial aspirations among over-50s.
Entrepreneurial challenges like confidence gaps, ageist assumptions, and inaccessible resources were central to her findings. “Writing 10 business plans means nothing if your inner critic keeps holding you back,” Dr Moore emphasized. Her holistic approach in Later Creator addresses soft skills alongside business basics — tackling self-doubt, developing a proactive mindset, and leveraging what she terms “age capital.”
A Bold Vision for Older Entrepreneurs
Later Creator offers three tiers of support tailored to individuals’ needs, ranging from app-based learning modules to in-person mentoring sessions. The programme doesn’t merely teach entrepreneurship but builds a robust foundation of emotional resilience and self-awareness, coupled with structured knowledge on financial planning, sales, and goal-setting.
Dr Moore sees Later Creator as the cornerstone to fostering inclusivity in business. Her advocacy for policy changes and tailored business support systems is amplified by her audience. “People over 50 have the experience and capability, but face a lack of confidence. They’re often overlooked by investors and spoken down to by younger professionals in support organizations,” she notes.
Building A Future Without Boundaries
The upcoming event marks more than a programme launch — it’s a rallying cry for a shift in perspectives toward aging and entrepreneurship. As policy makers, educators, and business leaders join hands, the groundwork for addressing structural ageism is being laid. Dr Moore reflects on her journey with optimism and a deep sense of purpose: “You’re never too old to dream and achieve; sometimes all it takes is someone to show you the way.”
Through Later Creator, Dr Isabella Moore CBE isn’t just pivoting her own career but inspiring a movement that invites older adults to reshape the narrative of business and rewrite their own stories. As the event draws closer, one thing is clear: retirement can wait; the entrepreneurial spark doesn’t have an expiry date.
