The quest to live longer, happier lives is about far more than outrunning death, this inspiring DLD26 session makes clear. Longevity demands a fundamental redesign of how we live, work, and care for one another, as you’ll hear from Caroline Green (University of Oxford), Nic Palmarini (UK National Innovation Centre for Ageing), Alexander Rose (Automattic) and moderator Amy Wilkinson (Ingenuity).
“What people are often getting wrong in longevity is that it’s not about beating aging or catching out death”, Caroline Green emphasizes, “but that it’s about building a society in which we all want to age and where we celebrate being old just as much as we celebrate being young.”
Alexander Rose shares insights from his research on long-lived organizations, arguing that their success often hinges on “a storyteller in charge” to preserve and adapt their identity. He warns against the obsession with unchecked growth, noting that right-sized organizations endure longer by aligning with sustainable practices.
Nic Palmarini highlights the need to redefine longevity as a priority in both society and business. “I think organizations should have to start thinking about placing longevity in their mission statement”, he says. Longevity should also be seen as a global opportunity, he argues, especially in Western countries with millions of citizens over the age of 60. “What do you want to do with these people?”, he asks. “Are they a problem or are they the best asset you have?”
Watch the video to explore this important topic in detail.
