Why Every Leader Must Understand Menopause at Work

If half your workforce will face it, why is it still taboo?

Today Margaret Wood, a menopausal transition facilitator, dismantles the myths, explains the brain science, and shows leaders how to stop losing brilliant women at their peak.

You’ll hear how menopause actually shows up (it’s not just hot flushes), why men must be in the conversation, and the simple, practical moves any company can make this quarter.

We also talk about “menopause concealment”, early menopause, and the surprising upside: the post-menopausal “upgrade”.

In this episode:

What menopause is (and isn’t). Symptoms differ wildly, from heat to feeling cold

The brain changes: why mood, memory and confidence can dip, and how to respond

Culture over policy: moving beyond desk fans to real psychological safety

The business case: retention, reputation and productivity you can’t ignore

Bringing men in: how mixed-group education shifts behaviour fast

Post-menopause power: why many women hit a new gear and how to harness it

If this helped you lead better, subscribe and share with a manager who needs it.

Chapters:

00:00:15 — Chance, Not a Plan

01:08:00 — Inviting Men Into the Room

02:59:00 — Menopause, Simply Explained

04:35:00 — One Size Doesn’t Fit Anyone

05:33:00 — Hot… Or Freezing?

07:09:00 — Education Over Assumptions

09:21:00 — The Cost of Getting It Wrong

11:46:00 — Proactive, Not Performative

13:15:00 — It’s the Brain, Not Just Heat

15:06:00 — The Epiphany: Mixed Groups

16:26:00 — Early Menopause Happens

17:51:00 — IVF & Induced Menopause

19:39:00 — Concealment & Confidence Dips

21:16:00 — The Upgrade: Brain Renovation

22:57:00 — From Chaos to Rewire

24:56:00 — Support Now, Strength Later

26:50:00 — When Joy Goes Missing

28:02:00 — How to Start, Today

29:55:00 — This Isn’t ‘Nice To Have’

31:15:00 — The Career Jungle, Not Ladder