Purpose/ Focus

The Second Half Interest Group focuses on the second half (broadly defined) of life, and most of the regular participants are in or near that stage in our own lives. We found that HBS prepared us fairly well for the challenges of the first half of our adult lives, and helped us achieve flexibility in our choices about the rest. Our HBS experience was, however, relatively silent on what to do with the second half of our lives. We use HBS tools (group discussions) and resources (fellow alumni) to help each of us address our own personal case of "What Next?" to create a happy, healthy, fulfilling second half of life.

Advances in sanitation, nutrition and medicine have nearly doubled life expectancy since 1900. This new life stage is largely uncharted territory. The model of retiring to a gold watch, guaranteed pension and rocking chair (never appealing to most HBS alumni in the first place) is now seen as largely a myth and an increasingly rare option today. How do we want to spend these years? How will we finance them? What new health (physical, mental and emotional) issues are we likely to face? How will we choose to spend our time, energy and money? How do our family and support systems change? Where and how do we want to live? Come help us figure out the answer to these questions together.

The Second Half is currently chaired by Denise Nitterhouse (MBA 1977, DBA 1981), 773-489-5254, dnitterh@depaul.edu. Events are currently being scheduled based on presenter availability, with brief business meetings after each event. If you have an interesting story to tell about your own Second Half transitions, would like to get peer input on a personal transition you’re facing, or have any other questions or suggestions, call or email the chair.

Rebalancing the Portfolio of Life. A panel of HBS Alumni who have recently undergone or are in the middle of a major second half transition will briefly present their personal cases and lead group discussions about these opportunities and challenges.

Brian Kurth, founder & CEO of "Volunteer Vacations", will discuss the innovative company he founded & his new book "Test Drive Your Dream Job" (W 2/20/2008).

This group, initially called "Fulfilling Retirement", met occasionally in spring 2000, then retired. It came out of retirement on March 2, 2007 with a presentation by Bob Howard, who came out of retirement himself to become CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Chicago.