When you're not seen: change the frame
From Dalbir’s Desk
As I sit down to write this week’s newsletter, I’m honestly still a little blown away.
I posted something on LinkedIn a few days ago about how, as we move into our 50s, many of us start to feel… invisible. I wrote it quite instinctively, not expecting much. But the response completely floored me.
Not only did it resonate with so many women, but what really surprised me was how many said they’d started feeling invisible in their 40s. Even more striking was the number of people who seemed resigned to it,as though the best of their professional and personal lives had already passed, and all that was left was to quietly step aside or “give back” in a non-revenue-generating way.
It honestly stopped me in my tracks.
Because I don’t believe the story ends there.
Yes, employers need to think differently. Yes, recruiters need to rethink their lens. But so do we. Because our experience hasn’t expired—it’s just that the world hasn’t caught up with how to frame and value it. And that’s where we come in. That’s what we’re doing at Santalan: helping women reframe, rebuild, and reclaim their power.
So this week’s newsletter is all about visibility - how to find it again, hold onto it, and walk with it unapologetically.
I hope there’s something in here that sparks something bold in you.
With love,
Dalbir x
Stories shaping this week's conversation
When you’re not seen, change the frame
Invisibility at midlife doesn’t announce itself. It drifts in.
It shows up in the opportunities that never land.
In the roles that somehow feel “out of reach” despite years of experience.
In the silence after submitting an application that once would’ve sparked a phone call.
This isn’t about capability. It’s about context.
The workplace is evolving — faster, louder, younger. And in the process, many experienced women find themselves edged out of visibility, not because they’ve become less valuable, but because they’re no longer framed in a way the market recognises.
At Santalan, we believe visibility is not a given — it’s a strategic choice.
If your work, presence, and value aren’t being seen, it’s not a signal to shrink. It’s a signal to reframe.
That starts with three hard pivots:
– Define what you want to be known for now — not ten years ago
– Speak directly to the problems your experience can solve today
– Align how you show up with how modern hiring and leadership landscapes actually work
Relevance isn’t earned through effort alone — it’s created through positioning.
This week, we challenge the idea that invisibility is inevitable. It’s not. It’s just what happens when your story stays static — while the market moves on.
You don’t need to reinvent. You need to reposition.
And when you do — you stop waiting to be noticed, and start being impossible to ignore.
Want to know where your visibility really stands?
Take the 3-minute quiz to find out — and get practical steps to shift how you’re seen.
What happens when the world stops seeing your potential — but you still have more to give?
In this episode, Dalbir speaks with Kate Stephens, CEO of Smart Works, about what it really takes for women to reclaim visibility after career breaks, redundancy, or redirection. They explore how something as simple as a new outfit can restore dignity, presence, and self-belief — and how visibility isn’t just about appearance, but identity.
This conversation is a reminder: being seen isn’t vanity — it’s power.
Highlights that got our attention
How Gen X women are turning midlife into prime time
Forget fading out — many Gen X women are using midlife as a launchpad. This Forbes feature explores how women in their 40s and 50s are embracing entrepreneurship as a way to reclaim autonomy, impact, and income after being sidelined by traditional career paths.
From consulting to creative ventures, the article highlights the resilience and reinvention powering this midlife movement — and why it’s time the business world paid attention.
Book spotlight
Why we can’t sleep: Women’s new midlife crisis
By Ada Calhoun
Gen X women were raised to believe they could have it all — and now, in midlife, many are wondering why it feels like they’re falling apart. In Why We Can’t Sleep, Ada Calhoun explores the unique pressures facing women born between 1965 and 1980: financial instability, caregiving responsibilities, career stagnation, and the overlooked realities of perimenopause. Through interviews with over 200 women, Calhoun reveals a generation grappling with anxiety, exhaustion, and the creeping invisibility that often defines midlife.This book offers a candid look at the systemic challenges Gen X women face and serves as a validating companion for those navigating the complexities of midlife.
Ready for what’s next?
We’re building something for women who are done with burnout, noise, and surface-level advice.
This isn’t just a retreat. It’s a reset.
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