Debra Whitman, PhD, a leading expert on aging, recently found herself asking key questions we all face in midlife and beyond: How long will I live? Will I be healthy? Can I maintain my memory? Will I have enough money? Drawing from her best-selling book, “The Second Fifty: Answers to the 7 Big Questions of Midlife and Beyond,” as well as compelling research and personal stories, Whitman — executive vice president and chief public policy officer at AARP — offers surprising insights and practical advice on brain health, work, caregiving, retirement, and aging well.

Whitman spoke at the 2025 Women in Retail Leadership Summit, hosted by Women Leading Travel & Hospitality’s sister brand, Women in Retail Leadership Circle, about approaching midlife, navigating later years, and supporting loved ones to achieve a meaningful, vibrant second half of life.