Karen Sands

Karen Sands is a GeroFuturist, bestselling author, and recognized voice at the intersection of aging, longevity, and the future of work. Named by Forbes as one of the original Top 50 Female Futurists Worldwide, Sands is known for her expertise in educational and social gerontology and is a thought leader on ageism, the business of aging, longevity, and the Longevity Economy. Sands has spent five decades shaping conversations about the future and the megatrends influencing it, engaging professionals and change agents in discussions about innovation in the workplace, wellness, healthcare, and aging across various sectors.

Sands is the author of 12 books, including "Visionaries Have Wrinkles," "The Ageless Way," and "Gray is the New Green." Her Amazon No. 1 bestseller, "The Ageless Way," has been recognized for challenging outdated perceptions of aging and introducing new paradigms for living longer, healthier, and more financially independent lives. She has been acknowledged by Bruce Rosenstein, managing editor of Leader to Leader, as among the top leading futurist authors and has been listed on Futurist Ross Dawson's Top Global Female Futurists.

Sands is a Master Certified Coach and Board Certified Coach who has worked with thousands of executives, CEOs, entrepreneurs, academics, and global leaders to help them become Everyday Futurists and shape their futures by design at any age or stage. Through her work in GeroFuturing, Sands established the Ageless Way Academy within the Future By Design Institute, offering curricula, strategic foresight consulting, and executive coaching for academia, nonprofits, and businesses. Her initiatives focus on dismantling the "silver ceiling," addressing age bias, and promoting intergenerational collaboration.

As a keynote speaker, seminar leader, moderator, and panelist, Sands presents at universities, corporate events, conferences, and workshops on topics such as the global impact of longevity, population aging, the future of work and leadership, gendered ageism, and transformation across generations. She has been interviewed by CNN, Wall Street Journal, Cosmopolitan, Washington Post, and Boston Globe, and has appeared on various radio programs. Sands' work challenges limiting perceptions about aging and ageism, encouraging audiences to embrace new possibilities and leadership roles in the business of aging, with a focus on innovation and intergenerational impact.