Living Your Best Encore: Susan Black

What was your previous job/career, and how many years did you dedicate to it? Would you be open to sharing your age?

I’ve spent more than four decades in the travel industry—and I’ve always been a builder, an innovator, and a boundary-pusher. I led marketing and strategy for American Express Travel, Liberty Travel, and major tour operators and tourism companies, often creating entirely new ways of connecting people to the joy of travel. Whether developing global brand campaigns or launching emerging tech tools, I never shied away from doing things differently—and doing them boldly.

I’m 67 now, and if anything, I feel even more energized. This stage of my life isn’t a retreat—it’s an expansion. I’ve taken all the experience, insight, and fire I’ve accumulated and channelled it into a venture that’s not just growing and successful—it’s meaningful.

What sparked your current journey—whether you’re still working, enjoying retirement, or embracing a “second act”? What was the defining moment that led you here?

The defining moment came in 2020, during the height of the pandemic. My 96-year-old mother—brilliant, curious, and independent—was confined to her assisted living residence during lockdown. She was cut off from the world, from her activities, from her community. And while her body was slowing down, her mind was still a force of nature.

We always shared a deep love of travel, and I knew in my heart that if I could find a way for her to explore the world again—even virtually—I had to do it. That impulse gave rise to Wowzitude: a live, interactive virtual travel platform designed for older adults, lifelong learners, and anyone who wants to connect deeply with places and people around the world.

Tragically, my mother passed away from COVID in July 2020 before she could fully experience the platform she inspired. But her spirit is at the core of everything we do. Wowzitude was born from grief, yes—but more than that, it was born from love, vision, and the belief that connection and curiosity are ageless. Today, we’ve grown into a thriving, interactive, and scalable travel community, connecting 2 million people—and counting.

What is one powerful lesson you learned later in life that you wish you could have whispered to your younger self?

You don’t have to follow someone else’s map. You can chart your own—and trust that every experience has prepared you for the journey ahead.

Be bold—always. Lean into the confidence that only lived experience can bring. Let joy guide you. Use everything you’ve learned to blaze new trails with purpose and clarity. Stay curious, stay engaged, and never stop learning. Connect, connect, connect—that’s where the magic lives.

You’re not starting over. You’re starting from—from strength, from wisdom, and from the deep knowing that the best is still ahead.

Please complete this sentence: The thing I value most about where I am in life right now is....

...the fierce sense of purpose that fuels everything I do. I get to build something that brings joy, connection, and discovery to others. I get to create on my terms—with clarity, courage, and a deep respect for the lives we touch.

This chapter of my life is not about slowing down—it’s about dialing in. There’s urgency in my voice, yes, but also deep satisfaction in knowing I’m exactly where I should be, doing exactly what I was meant to do.

Susan Black is the founder and CEO of Wowzitude. This award-winning, scalable livestream travel platform brings real-time, interactive tours to over 2 million older adults, intrepid travellers, and lifelong learners. A travel industry trailblazer for over 40 years, Susan reinvented herself at 63 as a tech entrepreneur, transforming personal loss into a global impact. She speaks widely about innovation, longevity, healthy aging and finding purpose at every stage of life. For more information, please visit wowzitude.com

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