Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel

The Workplace Secret No One’s Talking About: Breaking the Silence on Menopause

Mar 24, 2025

Natalie Nixon, a creativity strategist and president of Figure 8 Thinking, shares her early-onset menopause journey, reflecting on feeling unprepared after her surgery. Joining her is Anne Marie Squeo, CEO of Proof Point Communications, who discusses managing menopause while leading at Xerox during a pandemic. They dive into the unexpected advantages of this life transition and how menopause’s stigma affects professional environments. Together, they advocate for a work culture that normalizes discussions around menopause and offers better support for those experiencing it.

33:43

Episode guests

Anne Marie Squeo

Natalie Nixon

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The stigma surrounding menopause often leads to silence in the workplace, which negatively impacts both individuals and workplace dynamics.

Acknowledging and discussing menopause can empower women and foster a supportive work culture that accommodates various personal experiences.

Deep dives

The Need for Open Conversations About Menopause

Most women experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, coinciding with crucial career advancements but often leaving them in silence due to stigma and lack of accommodations at work. This silence not only isolates individuals but also detracts from the collective employer-employee dynamic; better discussions around menopause can positively affect workplaces. An example cited was a woman in a senior role who kept a towel and spare clothes under her desk, indicating the challenges women face but are hesitant to voice. Addressing menopause in the workplace can empower women, allow them to share their experiences, and lead to meaningful changes that benefit all employees.

Intro

5min

Navigating Health and Identity: A Personal Journey

6min

Navigating Menopause: Bridging the Communication Gap at Work

5min

Navigating Career Transitions During Menopause

10min

Breaking the Silence on Menopause

6min

The Menopause Secret No One Talks About at Work—And Why It Needs to Change

Breaking the Silence: Menopause in the Workplace with Natalie Nixon and Anne Marie Squeo

Why Aren’t We Talking About Menopause? Reimagining Work Culture for All

The Workplace Secret No One’s Talking About: Breaking the Silence on Menopause

Why don’t we talk about menopause at work, when it’s something roughly half the population experiences? Most people with ovaries hit menopause somewhere between the ages of 45 and 55, often at the height of their careers. But for years, they’re left to push through this period silently. Peers and mentors don’t discuss it. Businesses do little to recognize it, let alone accommodate it.

No one is served by this silence. So on today’s episode of Hello Monday, we’re talking about menopause. Jessi Hempel sits down with Natalie Nixon, creativity strategist and president of Figure 8 Thinking, and Anne Marie Squeo, CEO and Founder of Proof Point Communications.

Together, they discuss:

Natalie’s experience of going through menopause early and unprepared, following a myomectomy.
Anne Marie’s experience of juggling menopause, a global pandemic, and her C-suite position at Xerox.
The unexpected advantages at the intersection of menopause and career
Managing the symptoms of menopause at work, from irritability, to hot flashes, to sleeping less than five hours a week.
How we can reimagine a work culture that destigmatizes menopause and better supports the people experiencing it.

Want to keep talking about menopause with us? Join us for Office Hours, Wednesday at 3pm on the LinkedIn News Page

Learn more about menopause through the following resources:

Mayo Clinic: Menopause

The Menopause Society

Let’s Talk Menopause