By Laila St.Matthew-Daniel
ACROSS INDUSTRIES, midlife women leaders are shaping futures, influencing decisions, and carrying tremendous responsibility. They are the ones others look to for vision, stability, and strength.
Yet behind the poise, many quietly carry the weight of ‘menopause’.
It’s the season no one prepares you for, and yet it often collides with the years when women are at their peak of influence. While expectations remain high, energy can dip. Sleepless nights, brain fog, hot flashes, or emotional shifts show up uninvited. And because leadership culture often celebrates relentless performance, very few women feel safe enough to say, “This is hard for me right now.”
A Story That Says It All
Just yesterday, a woman called me. She whispered that menopause was making her feel awful. To crown it all, she was dealing with a painful shoulder that robbed her of sleep, and she wondered if I had come across such a thing. I told her that yes, this can be one of the fallouts of menopause, and that she should see her doctor.
Her response struck me: “It’s such a tough time… because people don’t talk about the real effects of menopause past hot flushes and HRT.”
Her words echo the silent battle many women leaders face…carrying responsibility on the outside while carrying pain, fatigue, or self-doubt on the inside.
Why Coaching Matters in Midlife Leadership
Leadership requires clarity, emotional balance, and presence. These are the currencies of influence. When menopause disrupts these areas, the risk is not only burnout but also missed opportunities for greater impact.
This is where coaching makes a difference. Menopause-informed coaching creates a safe, non-judgmental space to:
Reframe menopause as a transition, not a decline.
Sustain confidence, focus, and presence.
Align personal well-being with professional responsibilities.
Build resilience and rediscover purpose.
The truth is, midlife can be the most powerful pivot point in a leader’s journey. With the right support, it becomes a season of deep clarity, renewed strength, and bold leadership.
Closing the Circle
I keep thinking about that woman’s words. She was right, we don’t talk enough about the real effects of menopause, especially in leadership. But when we begin to name them, we make space for strength, strategy, and support to meet us there.
Midlife is not the end of leadership impact – it’s an invitation to lead differently, with wisdom and strength that only come from lived experience.
So allow me to ask you: “What wisdom have you gained from leading in midlife that you wish more women could hear?”
