Starting Over 6

 Stories remind us that reinvention is not about age, it’s about courage, clarity, and commitment. Whether you’re considering a new hobby, a second career, or a personal project, the most important step is simply beginning just like Michael H. Posner – From Government Lawyer to Human Rights Educator

Michael H. Posner had already built a formidable career by the time he began to consider what might come next. As a seasoned government lawyer and former Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor under the Obama administration, Posner was no stranger to the complexities of global affairs. He had spent decades working at the intersection of law, diplomacy, and advocacy, championing human rights and pressing for accountability in some of the most challenging corners of the world.

But after years navigating the political and legal arenas, he faced a question that many of us encounter in midlife or later: What now? Was there a way to build on his experience while finding new meaning and impact in a different phase of life?

Unlike some reinvention stories sparked by burnout or dissatisfaction, Michael’s transition wasn’t driven by frustration. Instead, it was guided by a quiet curiosity and a persistent sense that he had more to offer, just in a different way. He wasn’t ready to retire or slow down. He was ready to shift gears.

What called to him was the world of education. Not just teaching in the traditional sense, but creating something new, something that blended his years of practical experience with a bold vision for the future. He wanted to bring his knowledge to a new audience: young people preparing to lead in an increasingly complex world where business, politics, and human rights collide.

That vision became reality when he accepted a position at NYU’s Stern School of Business, one of the top institutions for future business leaders. There, he co-founded the Center for Business and Human Rights, the first center of its kind at a business school. It was a move that surprised some, but made perfect sense to Posner. He understood that in the 21st century, the private sector plays a central role in shaping society, often with more power and reach than governments. If human rights were to be truly respected, companies needed to be part of the solution.

At the Center, he began helping students and companies understand how supply chains, digital platforms, and corporate decision-making affect real people around the globe. Whether addressing labor rights in the garment industry or the spread of misinformation on social media, Posner’s work brought ethics and empathy into boardroom discussions.

What made the transition especially fulfilling for him was the opportunity to mentor. After years working on global stages, he found deep satisfaction in the classroom, engaging with students who were eager to learn, challenge assumptions, and explore how to build a more just world through business. These weren’t idealistic novices, they were future CEOs, entrepreneurs, and policy influencers. And Michael saw it as his mission to equip them with the tools, and the conscience, to lead responsibly.

Reinvention didn’t mean walking away from his past. Instead, it meant bringing everything he had learned into a new context, one where he could shape change in a more foundational way. It also meant letting go of the identity tied to his previous roles and embracing the unknowns of academic life. But Posner approached this shift not as a loss, but as a chance to amplify his impact in a way that was more personal and long-lasting.

What keeps him energized today isn’t just the intellectual stimulation or professional recognition. It’s knowing that he’s contributing to a generational shift, one where business leaders are trained to consider not just profits, but people. And that’s no small thing. His reinvention has helped plant seeds of empathy, responsibility, and purpose in the minds of young professionals who will shape the global economy for decades to come.

Michael’s journey is a reminder that reinvention doesn’t always mean turning away from a career; sometimes it means reimagining how your knowledge can serve a new audience. It’s about staying connected to your core values while expressing them in new, creative ways.

For those of us considering a second act, or even a third, his story offers powerful lessons. First, that your experience is a valuable resource. Second, that education and mentorship can be a profound way to give back. And third, that it’s never too late to build something new and meaningful.

Today, Michael H. Posner stands as both a scholar and a guide, a former diplomat turned educator, bridging the worlds of power and principle. His legacy is no longer only in the policies he helped shape, but in the minds of the students he inspires every day.

And perhaps that’s the real beauty of midlife reinvention, not just what we accomplish, but how we choose to pass it on.