Women Spend Half Their Careers in Perimenopause and Menopause

Women Spend Half Their Careers in Perimenopause and Menopause

💥 Menopause: The Career Game-Changer Nobody’s Talking About 💥 Let’s get real: women spend nearly half their careers in menopause. HALF. This isn’t just a personal journey—it’s a workplace issue that impacts productivity, engagement, and well-being for women and their teams. Yet, it’s been shoved into the shadows for far too long. Enough is enough.

🌸 What Happens When We Ignore It?

  • Women juggling sleepless nights and brain fog still show up.
  • Countless careers stall because support is MIA.
  • Whole organisations miss out on the resilience, wisdom, and authenticity that seasoned women bring.

🔥 Why Leadership Needs to Step Up Inclusive leadership isn’t just about buzzwords; it’s about action. Menopause matters to every stage of life and leadership. Acknowledging it smashes stigma, opens conversations, and helps build workplaces where women don’t just survive—they thrive.

Here’s What Bold Leadership Looks Like:

  1. 🗣️ Break the Silence: Normalise menopause as a workplace topic—no more whispers or side glances.
  2. 🌟 Empathy in Policy: Flexible hours, wellness programs, and tailored support systems aren’t perks—they’re essentials.
  3. 🤝 Champion Diversity: Celebrate every phase of life. Menopause is part of the incredible journey that makes women unstoppable leaders.

💪 Stronger Workplaces, Stronger Futures When we address menopause with courage and empathy, we foster **authentic leaders, resilient teams,** and workplaces that truly value diversity and inclusion. This isn’t just about doing the right thing—it’s about shaping a future of leadership where every individual is empowered to thrive.

Here’s how this reality reshapes the leadership landscape—and why addressing it is crucial for building stronger, more equitable workplaces.

1. It Shapes Resilience

  • Perimenopause and menopause demand physical and emotional resilience. Women navigating this while leading or building careers develop unparalleled strength and adaptability. These qualities often become leadership superpowers.

2. It Reinforces the Need for Workplace Empathy

  • Recognising that many women manage symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, or hot flashes while excelling at their jobs emphasises the importance of empathetic and inclusive workplaces. Menopause awareness is no longer optional; it’s essential for creating environments where women thrive.

3. It’s a Catalyst for Change

  • Women stepping forward with their stories about perimenopause and menopause inspire policy changes like flexible work, wellness programs, and leadership support systems. This advocacy paves the way for healthier, more sustainable careers for everyone.

4. Women Gain Confidence

  • As women transition through these stages, many embrace an era of 'no more apologies.' It’s a phase marked by clarity of purpose, bolder leadership, and authenticity, where they own their voices and show up powerfully.

5. It Highlights a Leadership Gap to Fill

  • Half a career spent navigating menopause means organizations should rethink how they support long-term leadership growth for women. By addressing menopause, companies retain and empower talented leaders instead of losing them due to a lack of understanding.

6. It Normalises the Conversation

  • Breaking the stigma about menopause is revolutionary. Leaders talking about this openly not only help normalise it but also become role models for younger generations entering the workforce.

This stage of life isn’t a challenge to overcome—it’s a force of nature that redefines leadership, authenticity, and the courage to lead boldly. Women rocking their careers through menopause prove that strength isn’t about ignoring what’s happening; it’s about thriving through it.


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How to embrace it

Embracing perimenopause and menopause—especially when it intersects with your career—requires a mix of self-compassion, strategy, and empowerment. Here’s how to lean into this transformative time:


1. Educate Yourself

  • Knowledge is power. Learn about the phases, symptoms, and changes so you’re prepared to navigate them with confidence.
  • Pro tip: Read up on hormone health, nutrition, and mental wellness. Podcasts, books, or menopause support communities are goldmines of information.


2. Own Your Experience

  • This is a natural, powerful life stage—stop apologizing for it. Reframe menopause as a badge of wisdom and resilience.
  • Mantra: "I’m stepping into my most authentic, unapologetic self."


3. Communicate at Work

  • Advocate for yourself. If you're struggling with symptoms like brain fog or fatigue, be upfront with your manager or team.
  • Push for flexible work arrangements or workplace wellness programs that include menopause support.


4. Build a Support Network

  • Share experiences with friends, colleagues, or online communities to normalize the conversation and reduce isolation.
  • A menopause coach or therapist can be transformative for personal guidance.


5. Prioritise Your Health

  • Nutrition: Focus on a diet rich in healthy fats, fiber, and protein to support hormonal health.
  • Exercise: Incorporate strength training, yoga, and cardio to counteract changes in metabolism and bone health.
  • Sleep: Prioritise rest, as quality sleep is crucial during this time.


6. Redefine Your Leadership

  • Recognise that this stage brings clarity and wisdom. Use it to amplify your voice and inspire others.
  • Lead by example: Be open about your journey to normalise menopause in leadership spaces.


7. Tap into Creativity and Passion

  • Menopause often sparks a shift in priorities. Use this as an opportunity to rediscover passions or pursue new goals—whether that’s writing, painting, or starting a new venture.


8. Seek Medical Guidance

  • Consult healthcare professionals about managing symptoms with solutions tailored to you, such as HRT (hormone replacement therapy) or natural remedies.


9. Celebrate the Freedom

  • There’s an incredible sense of freedom in this phase of life—no more periods, fewer societal pressures, and a clearer sense of self. Celebrate it!


10. Champion Others

  • Share your knowledge and support other women navigating this phase. Be a role model for embracing menopause with grace and strength in the workplace and beyond.


By embracing menopause as a powerful transition rather than a setback, you can turn this life stage into a launchpad for boldness, authenticity, and reinvention.


IT'S LAUNCHED MENORISE! Breaking the Stigma: Empowering Women Through Menopause and Perimenopause 🌟 It’s time to break the silence and rewrite the narrative around menopause and perimenopause.This stage of life is not just about change—it’s about transformation, resilience, and growth. Yet, for too long, it has been overshadowed by stigma and misunderstanding.

At LeadershipHQ, we’re on a mission to change that. We believe menopause should be met with knowledge, confidence, and empowerment—not shame or silence.

🌈 Our Commitment📚 Educating EveryoneWe aim to educate women, men, and employers about menopause and its impact on life and work. It’s not just a “women’s issue”—it’s a leadership and workplace issue that requires understanding and action from everyone.

💪 Empowering WomenThrough tools, insights, and support, we’re here to help women thrive during perimenopause and menopause. Whether it’s addressing symptoms, career challenges, or mindset shifts, we believe every woman can navigate this phase with strength and grace.

💬 Eliminating the StigmaIt’s time to normalise conversations about menopause—in our homes, workplaces, and society. We believe that awareness and openness pave the way for change.

🤝 Join Us in Breaking the StigmaWe’re launching initiatives to support this mission, including:

✨ Educational workshops

📂 Resources for employers

🎙️ Open forums for women to share their stories and learn from each otherHere’s How You Can Help

🔗 Share this post to raise awareness.

💬 Start conversations in your own circles.

📧 Reach out to learn how your organisation can create a supportive environment for women navigating menopause.

Let’s make menopause a celebrated chapter, not a taboo topic. Together, we can empower women to thrive—and lead—with confidence.

Elling Elliat Namean

HR Practitioner - Acting Principal Staff Development Officer (Judicial Programs)

2mo

Thank you, Sonia, for the voice.

Like
Reply
Liam Walsh

Author, Work-Life, public speaker, NED, Equities Investor, Ex: 9-5 warrior, Digital Media, Feminist, A Tad Dyslexic (not heaps)

3mo

I didn’t realise it was that high (percent). We really need to get much better at supporting women at work.

Tania Hughes

General Manager - Talent , Global Mobility and Workforce Planning

3mo

A topic which needs to be discussed more. Thank you for highlighting it.

Tara Janu

Dealer Account Manager - Indirect/Consumer Lending Solutions | Strategic Client & Partner Relationship Builder | US Army Veteran Driving Sales Excellence

3mo

Menopause is still (as you stated) a very unsupported topic in our workplaces - these issues affecting our performance, hireability, and leadership opportunities need to be addressed on an individual basis, not general metrics with narrow parameters. Thank you for continuing to stand tall on this, Sonia.

BLESSINGS MLOWOKA

NGO Humanitarian Committee Coordinator/ International Investment & Programs Consultant (Malawi)/ MBA, Disaster Management/ Nature B. Solutions Expert/ Humanitarian and Environmental Expert/ PGI,PSEA Expert/ MHPSS Advisor

3mo

Women are true leaders of today and tomorrow. In Malawi now, We are advocating for more supporters especially as we are having the General elections. In addition to the discussion above, young girls in Malawi drop out of school for a week once they are doing menstruation due to poor infrastructure and also resources to buy dignity and hygiene kits. I feel bad on this , that's why it becomes worse during camp setting after displacement because of disasters. Few NGOs talk of this on Menopause. What they suffer from etc. We are eager on this and need like minded people to be part of this and also worm with us in Malawi. mlowokablessings@gmail.com

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