Forbes just rolled out its 2025 “50 Over 50” list, celebrating women who shattered middle-age stereotypes to achieve greatness. While the effort serves up feel-good stories, it’s just another shallow list likely heavy on woke politics and light on real substance. The partnership with MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski—a liberal media figure—raises flags about how this list was cooked up.
Behind the scenes, Forbes claims to vet these nominees through a “rigorous” process involving executives and past winners. But when you’re judging “non-linear careers,” does that mean rewarding people for shifting to trendy causes rather than consistent excellence? It feels like yet another attempt to prove corporate America isn’t ageist—though the silence from years 1–49 of these women’s lives says otherwise.
The list supposedly highlights women who “pivoted” into new ventures later in life. Never mind that true American greatness doesn’t care about age—it praises grit, innovation, and results. Too many media darlings today let “over 50” sound like a heroic struggle, not a natural part of life. Real leadership isn’t defined by birth years but by character.
While the tired “glass ceiling” narrative gets a workout, where’s the outrage about actual barriers faced by everyday women juggling kids and careers without Forbes magazine’s spotlight? These editors would rather grandstand about “age diversity” than acknowledge real economic challenges. It’s typical mediaselective outrage.
This charade also pours gas on the left’s favorite bad idea: treating personal identity as a measure of success. Forbesh outdated prism of “breaking barriers” ignores the fundamental reality—America rewards hard work, regardless of age, sex, or skin color. Calling “success” an identity issue spits on honest achievement.
The manifesto accompanying this list drones on about “hope” and “drive,” but its fixation on victims of “social and economic barriers” mirrors the same tired left-wing rhetoric that blames the system instead of uplifting solution-minded thinking. Where are the lessons about perseverance, not just pity?
Conservatives know the truth: No publication’s “list” can replace the American Dream’s promise. Whether you’re 22 or 72, greatness happens through hard work—not handouts or participation trophies. The real heroes aren’t the ones bragging in Forbes but the unsung patriots grinding daily without media fanfare.
As this liberal vanity project fades into the noise, let’s remember what truly matters: meritocracy, self-reliance, and the God-given right to chase excellence without needing a newsletter to validate it. Let’s keep celebrating real heroes who defy age, odds, and hype to achieve actual greatness.
