After decades at the top, John Donahoe found himself starting over at 65.

John has led eBay, ServiceNow, and Nike. But some of his most important lessons came from burnout, failure, and the difficult transitions between success and what comes next.

In this deeply personal conversation, John shares:

Why stepping away at 55 changed the way he saw success and himself
What 50 wise elders taught him about vitality, purpose, and aging
How his painful departure from Nike challenged his identity at 65
Why adversity can become a source of meaning and growth
How an unexpected opportunity at Stanford became his next chapter

This is a powerful conversation about starting again, letting go of outcomes, and finding purpose beyond achievement.

Watch the full episode with John Donahoe.

Timestamps:

(03:16) Reinventing Life After 50

(05:07) Burnout and Taking a Year Off

(07:56) The Retreat That Changed Everything

(10:21) Leaving the Gladiator Ring

(13:59) The Search for Vitality

(16:12) Lessons From 50 Wise Elders

(20:15) Service, Purpose and Serendipity

(23:24) The Road to Nike

(28:04) Crisis and Failure at Nike

(33:15) Lessons From Failure

(37:26) A New Chapter at Stanford

(41:09) Finding Purpose Again

(44:15) The Gift of Adversity

(47:33) Turning Pain Into Wisdom

Check out Chip's Celebrating Life's Wisdom Oct 25-29 2026 workshop: https://www.meawisdom.com/celebrate

Learn more about MEA at ⁠https://www.meawisdom.com/

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From Nike CEO to Starting Over at 65: John Donahoe’s Reinvention

The Midlife Chrysalis

From Nike CEO to Starting Over at 65: John Donahoe’s Reinvention