I recently visited the Modern Elder Academy, the world’s first midlife wisdom school, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Chip Conley is the inspirational founder of the Modern Elder Academy and wrote the foreword for our book, Midlife New Life, that he is holding in this picture taken at the Rising Circle Ranch during the workshop.

The five-day workshop at the Modern Elder Academy was about mastering the art of mutual mentorship. It was led by Chip Conley, along with Marc Freedman, founder of CoGenerate. Their teaching, stories, examples, exercises, and profound wisdom about life transitions and about working, living, and educating across generations was all-absorbing and I am still overflowing with new knowledge and ideas for the future.

Having graduated from the mutual mentoring program as an aspiring Modern Elder, I am excited to see what is emerging. Chip Conley believes that “modern elders are interns as much as mentors” and has coined the term Menterns. Coming together to learn from each other, regardless of age, enables intergenerational collaboration that may require a significant mindset shift. I invite you to learn with me about the possibilities of being a Mentern.

Article originally posted on the drpaulward.com website, November 21, 2025