Starting this October, a group of women aged 45+ meets at the Rotterdam School of Management in an intimate, welcoming environment designed to foster confidence, learning, and personal empowerment. Over coffee and conversation, participants with diverse cultural and professional backgrounds come together to share experiences and explore their next steps in work and life.
The initiative, known as HERA Labs, is aimed at empowering learners to make choices, set their own goals, and grow the confidence of women in mid-life, especially those navigating new social and professional landscapes. One participant, reflecting on her experience after moving to the Netherlands, shared that despite having substantial work experience in her home country, she “felt lost” in a new system that did not recognise her previous achievements. HERA Labs are designed precisely to address this gap and provide more than skills development alone – they foster connection. As one woman stated, “any connection in our age is already a huge help”.
The sessions focus on both personal reflection and forward planning. Participants engage in collaborative exercises and self-help group formats while discovering new approaches to lifelong learning. It is not simply a return to formal education, but an active, ongoing habit of growth and adaptation.
The workshops encourage participants to reconnect with their strengths, articulate their ambitions, and build networks with relevant stakeholders who can open doors to future opportunities. By the end of the programme, each participant will develop a personalised action plan to support their professional and personal trajectory moving forward.
While the programme supports employability, its deeper value lies in restoring confidence and belonging. In every meeting, women work together to refine their goals, identify opportunities, and encourage one another – proving that growth at any age is a collective and human experience.
These activities are part of the HERA project – Helping Empower Women through Reskilling and Advancement – funded by the European Commission. Through HERA, women 45+ across partner countries are supported in lifelong learning, skills development, and community building. To learn more about the goals and impact of the project, check out: https://herawomen.eu/what-is-hera/
