7 Women Who Are Redefining Success After 35

The narrative that success has an expiration date is crumbling, and several women across various industries are leading the charge.

For too long, cultural messaging has suggested that professional peaks happen in your twenties and early thirties, especially for women. For example, pop stars and actresses are often labeled “comeback queens” for working past 40. Job postings seeking “recent graduates” or “high-energy” candidates could use age as a reason to reject a candidate. 

However, the activity from so many women over the age of 35 tells a different story. Across industries, women are achieving their most significant milestones well after the societal age limit, proving that ambition, reinvention, and impact can occur at any time. 

Here are seven women who are pushing the boundaries later in their lives and appear to be just getting started, too. 

Greta Gerwig made history in 2024 when “Barbie” became the highest-grossing film by a woman director, earning over $1.4 billion globally. At 41, she secured her second Oscar nomination for Best Director and transformed a toy franchise into a cultural phenomenon exploring feminism, identity, and patriarchy. 

While Issa Rae broke through with the comedy-drama series “Insecure,” her most ambitious moves came after 35. At 39, she’s expanded her production company, Hoorae Media, into a multimedia empire, signing major deals, launching audio content and consumer products, and investing in businesses led by people of color. Her evolution from actress-writer to mogul demonstrates how influence compounds over time.

In 2024, at 60, Melinda French Gates announced she was leaving the Gates Foundation to launch her own organization, Pivotal Ventures, with $12.5 billion to invest in gender equality initiatives. After decades of collaborative philanthropy, she’s charting an independent path focused on women’s economic empowerment, proving that one of your most defining chapters can begin at any age.

Quinta Brunson created, writes, produces, and stars in “Abbott Elementary,” which debuted when she was 32. By 35, she’d won multiple Emmys and revitalized network television comedy, which is a format many declared dead. Her rapid ascent in her thirties, after years of grinding in digital media, shows that the “right” timeline is the one you create.

“Selling Sunset” star Christine Quinn leveraged reality TV fame into serious business ventures. At 35, she launched her own luxury real estate firm, RealOpen, and expanded into tech investments and fashion collaborations. Christine transformed from a reality personality to an entrepreneur, demonstrating how women can convert cultural capital into lasting business infrastructure, as well as branch out to different industries

Tarana Burke founded the #MeToo movement in 2006, which is a social movement and awareness campaign against sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and rape culture 

However, mainstream recognition didn’t arrive until 2017, when she was 44. In 2024, at 51, Tarana continues advocating for survivors while building organizational infrastructure for lasting change. Her story exemplifies how the most important work often requires dedication to keep working while unnoticed until cultural impact arrives.

At 64, Angela Bassett experienced a career renaissance, starring in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (earning her first Oscar nomination) and continuing to book major action and dramatic roles. In an industry notorious for discarding older actresses, Angela proves that talent, preparation, and presence create opportunities at every stage.