Episode Summary
Karen Brown spent years at the top of the oil and gas industry — the first female geoscientist at Boone Pickens' Mesa Petroleum, then CEO of a major nonprofit. So why did she walk away from the money, the titles, and the respect to build a career in aging and age tech? This episode answers that question directly: after nearly a decade caregiving for her parents and in-laws, Karen saw a market that had almost no money, few skilled people, and enormous unmet need — and she decided that was exactly where she belonged.
Host Janine Vanderburg talks with Karen about the moment the pivot became clear, the internal script that told her she was "too old" at 58, how she rewrote it, and what more than a decade of angel investing in nearly four dozen age-tech startups taught her. They also dig into why investors underfund women founders, how to market to older adults without pity, and how Karen now helps employers retain and hire experienced talent over 50. It's a roadmap for any woman weighing a midlife leap into work that matters more than it pays — at first.
Key Takeaways
A career pivot can be a leap of clarity, not just a leap of faith. Karen didn't jump blindly; she volunteered first to test whether the aging space fit her goals before committing, then built her venture one deliberate step at a time.
The "I'm too old at 58" belief is an outdated script, not a fact. Based on 1935 Social Security-era life expectancy, that script ignores that today's women often have two to four more decades of life — and multiple next chapters — ahead of them.
Age tech grows on a marathon timeline, not overnight. After 13+ years and close to four dozen investments (with four exits), Karen's takeaway is that startups need years to find the right ecosystem, product, and go-to-market approach.
Women founders face a documented credibility gap in the investment room. Karen witnessed capable women dismissed on sight; she found female founders in caregiving startups often brought higher EQ and stronger whole-family solutions, yet still struggled to get funded.
Employers keep older workers for concrete business reasons, not charity. Organizations retain experienced talent because of tight labor pools, deep institutional knowledge, and traits like patience and thorough problem-solving — especially in manufacturing, financial planning, insurance, and nursing triage.
About the Guest: Karen Brown
Karen Brown began her career as a geoscientist with a finance mind, serving as the first female geoscientist at Boone Pickens' Mesa Petroleum before leading Energy Outreach Colorado as CEO. After nearly a decade as a family caregiver, she left the energy world at 58 to devote herself to the aging space — "for far less money and far less respect," as she puts it. Today she runs iAging and works with employers across the country to rethink how they hire, retain, and support workers over 50, including through age-friendly workplace initiatives. She is also an active angel investor who has backed close to four dozen age-tech startups over more than a decade. Karen is a leading voice in reframing aging around agency, independence, and possibility rather than pity.
Resource Stack
iAging — Karen Brown's consultancy helping employers hire and retain experienced talent over 50 (reach Karen via LinkedIn; new website launching September 15).
Modern Elder Academy (Chip Conley) — Source of the "scripts" framing Karen uses to describe outdated beliefs about aging.
Nymbl — Balance-focused age-tech solution Karen references as an example of a single-solution product (verify current product/site).
Boone Pickens / Mesa Petroleum — Background on the energy company and founder where Karen began her career.
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) — overview — Explanation of the employee support groups Karen helps employers build around caregiving and aging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I too old at 50 or beyond to start a new business or career?
No. Karen Brown made her leap from energy into aging at 58 and calls the "I'm too old" belief an outdated script rooted in 1935-era life expectancy. Statistically, the average woman today has two to four more decades ahead — meaning several potential next chapters. Her advice: take one step toward the next one, and you can always adjust course after a year or two.
How do you make a major career pivot without financial disaster?
Karen reduced her risk by experimenting before committing — volunteering with aging organizations to confirm the fit — and by leaning on a period of added household flexibility while she built her new venture. She frames a pivot as a series of small, deliberate steps rather than one dramatic leap, giving yourself a runway of a couple of years to test and adjust.
Why do investors fund fewer women founders?
Karen attributes it to ingrained "scripts" and bias. She personally witnessed a capable mid-career woman written off in the pitch room before she'd finished presenting — a perception of "less credibility" she says you could feel in the room. In her experience, women founders in caregiving startups often brought higher emotional intelligence and more complete, family-centered solutions, yet still faced a steep funding gap.
What makes an age-tech startup worth investing in?
Karen gravitates to companies solving real problems she or her family have faced, led by founders (often women) with high EQ who involve the whole family. She warns that single-solution products — like balance-only tools — hit a ceiling, because older adults in more advanced care stages need an interconnected ecosystem of solutions rather than one-off apps.
Which industries are most open to hiring workers over 50?
In Karen's work, manufacturing, financial planning, insurance, and nursing triage tend to value experienced talent most. These fields often struggle to attract younger workers and specifically prize the patience, thoroughness, and institutional knowledge that older employees bring to complex, information-gathering work.
Do I need a website before launching my business?
No. Karen was still building her first website more than a decade into her aging work. Janine notes she interviewed another guest who ran a successful communications business for two years before building a site. A website is not a prerequisite for starting a venture.
Where to Find Karen Brown
LinkedIn: Karen Brown — Karen's primary contact channel; her email is listed on her profile.
Website: Launching around September 15 (link to be added once live).
Connect through Janine: Janine is happy to introduce listeners to Karen directly.
About Build Your Own Boat
Build Your Own Boat is a podcast series hosted by Janine Vanderburg — award-winning three-time entrepreneur and anti-ageism advocate — featuring women who have launched new entrepreneurial ventures in midlife and beyond. The series is part of a larger storytelling project that ...
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