Is there a sweet spot for a woman’s age in business?

Twenty-something years ago, when I was in my mid-20s, I designed a promotional mailer for a clothing boutique. It included the cutest little custom illustration. But the client decided not to use it. She was already paying for a full branding project, so I didn't charge her for the work.

A few months later, my mom received a terrible photocopy of my design in the mail.

When I contacted the client about payment, assuming it was a mistake, she refused to pay me. So I took her to small claims court with a binder full of evidence and a detailed argument my lawyer helped me craft (thank goodness for California Lawyers for the Arts).

Buckle up. This part is wild.

She showed up with a single sheet from Kinko's saying their rate was $90 for a promotional mailer. Never mind the custom illustration. Then she literally told the judge, "But your honor, she's so young. I didn't think I had to pay her."

I technically won, but the judge only ordered her to pay me $90. I'm still not over it. But I did buy a pair of shoes with the money.

That wasn't the only time a client tried to take advantage of me because of my age.

I even had one guy try to launder money through me. Really. I guess he thought I just wouldn't say anything? I did. It was awkward.

30-year-old baby me with my baby

Too many years or not enough?!

For years, I didn't do in-person client meetings because I didn't want anyone to see how young I looked.

But then in 2023, when I was 46 with more than 20 years of experience, I struggled to find new work when a long-term retainer ended. Everyone wanted designers who could also do video and TikTok. I felt like a dinosaur.

During that time, an article on LinkedIn told me to remove my graduation dates and any experience more than 15 years old. It was rough.

All of this has me wondering: Is there a sweet spot for a woman's age in business?

It keeps coming up with clients as we craft their messaging. You want to be old enough to be taken seriously, but not so old as to seem irrelevant.

Should we say "25+ years experience" or "30"? We decided 25+ was better. 30 maybe made her seem old. Ugh. For another client, did "15+ years" seem too slight? We went with "nearly two decades."

You can't win. It's always too many years or not enough.

Let's f*cking own it.

Thankfully, I think there's more flexibility when you're running your own business versus working in corporate. You're not fighting for the same position against younger candidates.

I've found that part of my work now involves helping women navigate this delicate balance—owning their hard-earned expertise while being strategic about how they present their years of experience.

The age game is exhausting. But knowing how to frame your experience? That's something we can control.

I never advocate hiding or apologizing for your years in business. I want to position that experience as the valuable asset it truly is.

On my own website, I say, “I’ve been working as a graphic designer for more than 20 years.” The real number is 26. I’m not hiding anything, but “more than 20 years” just felt more elegant.

Goodies Just For You

WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT: ​The Cup of Jo​ blog recently asked readers, "What do you like about the way you look?" A bunch of women responded and they ​posted 8​ of the women. It's beautiful to see women celebrating their own looks!

WHAT I'M COOKING: ​Midnight Pasta​. This is one of those dishes you're supposed to be able to whip up with stuff that's always in your pantry. And because I love this dish, I usually do keep the items on hand (you just need pasta, anchovies, garlic, tomato paste, lemon). Hot tip: I keep pre-measured 1 tablespoon balls of tomato paste in my freezer. Every time I don't finish a can, I add to my stash.

WHO I'M ADMIRING: ​Molly Godfrey​ is the LinkedIn expert of your dreams. I did her 6-week intensive last fall and promptly signed several new clients through LinkedIn. She's smart and strategic and provides a ton of free content through her own ​posts​ and email newsletter. And I love how she encourages other women to share their stories in a way that's thoughtful and never cringe.