with Yvonne Marchese

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February 5, 2025

Have you ever felt like you were living a life that wasn’t fully your own?

Like you were checking all the right boxes—career, family, responsibilities—but something inside you was still searching for authenticity? This week on Late Bloomer Living, I had the privilege of speaking with Wendy Cole, a woman who spent decades hiding her true identity before finally embracing who she had always been.  Wendy knew from childhood that she was a girl, but societal and family expectations forced her to live as someone she wasn’t.

It wasn’t until she was 67 that she found the courage to transition and step fully into the life she was meant to live. Her story is about so much more than gender—it’s about the universal experience of self-acceptance, reinvention, and the courage it takes to make a change, no matter your age.

What Does It Mean to Live Authentically?

Wendy’s journey made me reflect on the ways we all hold ourselves back. Maybe it’s not gender identity for you. Maybe it’s a dream you’ve put on hold, a part of yourself you’ve silenced, or a path you’ve been afraid to take because it feels too late.

But what if it’s not too late? What if the only thing standing between you and the life you truly want is the belief that change isn’t possible?

Wendy spent decades suppressing who she was, believing there were no options for her. Then, in 2014, she discovered that medical and psychological understandings of transgender identity had evolved. With that knowledge, she made the decision to transition, and within six months, she was living fully as Wendy.

Her story is proof that transformation doesn’t have to take years—it starts with a decision to honor yourself.

Wendy Cole is a transition mentor and coach specializing in assisting individuals navigate significant life changes. She draws upon her own experience of transitioning at the age of 67. Her professional mission is to humanize the experience of being born transgender and provide support to both those undergoing transition and their families. Wendy asserts that transitioning has had a transformative impact on her life, improving her physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

In addition to coaching, Wendy offers consulting services for businesses and organizations on transgender-related issues and is available to speak on the topics. To date, she has shared her insights on approximately forty different podcasts. She is currently engaged in writing two books: one chronicling her life and the lessons she has learned from her transgender experience and another guiding parents of transgender children. Her articles have been published by PFLAG and on LinkedIn, further contributing to her expertise in the field.