Three words you don’t often see together.… but they’re inextricably linked.
The 2025 FTSE Women Leaders Review found women now hold 43% of company board positions. In the UK’s largest private companies, women in leadership roles are now at 37%.
Women’s representation in leadership has been steadily growing for a decade. All great news.
But here’s the thing: the menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45-55 with the average UK age of 51.
And women over 50? Women who have often faced a more challenging and potentially longer journey to leadership roles? They’re the fastest-growing demographic in our workforce.
That means more female leaders—and future leaders—are navigating a natural biological transition at the same time they’re taking on senior responsibilities.
Over half of all women say they don’t feel informed about menopause.
We see one in 10 women leave the workforce because menopause symptoms like anxiety, fatigue, brain fog, memory loss, and changes in confidence are overwhelming, but this is a time when women should be empowered to thrive in executive roles.
This isn’t just about wellbeing—it’s about retaining talent and leadership potential – and there is amazing help, advice, and support out there to help you navigate it.
Whether it’s for yourself, your team, or your organisation, October is Menopause Awareness Month, so it’s a perfect time to start the conversation.
Let’s make sure menopause is talked about in the same sentence as leadership and women.
