getinthegroove

Susan Feldman,

Age-63

Founder, Get in the Groove
– as told to The Silver Women

Women who inspired you as a young girl?
My maternal grandmother – Jean. She was a force to be reckoned with. She was opinionated and always spoke her mind. I didn’t always agree with her but she made me realize that it was important to stand up for what you believe. She also encouraged me to dream big and reach high.

Women, who inspire you now?
Today, I am inspired by women young and old who are getting things done and making things happen. I feel like I am so fortunate on a daily basis to meet women that are creating exciting new ventures and standing up for important causes of our time. I am not only inspired by them but I am always learning from them.

Most valuable lesson taught by your Mother or any other women growing up?
Having moved 8 times before graduating from high school my mother was a great inspiration on how to approach new situations and challenges. I learned from her that although change is often difficult it usually leads to great new experiences. She was the master at taking on a new city, making new friends, and quickly becoming part of a new community. Watching her I learned to take on new and uncharted territories with lots of enthusiasm and not to give up but to persist.

“Do I think older women are valued or celebrated enough?
 Absolutely not, which is exactly why I started In The Groove.”

Have you made career changes over the years?
Yes. I worked in the fashion industry as a buyer and then went into sales and marketing for the majority of my career. Retail was in my blood. My father was a retailer and he was very much a mentor to me. At 53, I had an idea, so I left fashion and started One Kings Lane. Now at 63, I have started www.getinthegroove.com. Time to change the conversation about aging and shine a light on all the fabulous women who are age-defying.

Through the decades!
20’s: Studied abroad in Florence, graduated from Stanford, got my MBA at UCLA. I quickly rose to become a buyer at a major department store. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard and played a little more. I  wish I had gone to Studio 54… at least once.
30’s: I gave birth to my 2 daughters, Kim & Jackie. I so would have loved to have run a marathon but a bum knee got in the way. I just got my knee replaced so who knows maybe there is a marathon in my future!
40’s: This was a busy decade with lots of change. I had divorced and was a single mom. There just never seemed to be time to do extracurricular activities. I also met the love of my life Bob and remarried at 45.
50’s: I moved back to Los Angeles. I had lived here in my 20’s and honestly didn’t think I would ever move back…glad I did. I love it and I now can’t imagine leaving. Starting and building One Kings Lane was one of the greatest accomplishments of my life. I worked like crazy, so it meant that I had to forgo other things but I don’t regret one minute of it.
60’s: Creating In The Groove has been a dream come true. I am so excited to shine a light on our demographic and show the world how fabulous we are. Watching all my kids succeed and flourish in their professions has been so rewarding. Did I mention I have become a grandmother twice? (well they call me Sassy) 

“Learning to listen to my inner voice
has been a challenge. When I was younger,
I tended not to be as in touch with my intuition
and listened more to others.  
Over the years I have learned to be more open
to my gut intuition.
You know, I have found it is usually right.”

What are you most grateful for?
My family.♥

Has there been a significant circumstance good or bad that changed your outlook on life?
Growing up I moved 8 times before graduating high school. I actually attended 3 different high schools. All these moves had a tremendous impact on who I am today and how I approach things. I had to learn to size up a situation quickly. At the end of the day moving made me very adaptable to new situations and probably more open to change than most folks.

Thoughts on aging?
The upside: I think having learned how to say no and to do what I want to do has been really empowering.
The downside: Wrinkles wrinkles wrinkles….they are everywhere. I suppose I should look at them as a badge of honor and experience but they do drive me a little crazy.

Your advice to young women of today?
Stay focused, listen to yourself, keep it simple, and make sure to have fun.

-Susan Feldman xoxo