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Executive development. Mental health support. Financial wellness. Productivity tools. Flexible work. Every one of these investments acknowledges a simple truth: People perform better when they're supported."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"789a6550e7ab","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"91feda8f8b390","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And yet one of the main drivers of performance — women's health, specifically midlife transition — has largely remained invisible. Not because it isn't important, but because we've been uncomfortable talking about it."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"a5081b5c63d8","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"269a42ed1e010","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That discomfort has created one of the biggest blind spots in "},{"_key":"269a42ed1e011","_type":"span","marks":["7cdb22665f8b"],"text":"modern leadership"},{"_key":"269a42ed1e012","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"7cdb22665f8b","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/category/leadership-trends-tactics"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"a8c55b2c5bb7","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b1dcd5ad93090","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As more women enter executive roles, found companies, sit on boards, and lead global organizations, we continue asking them to navigate hormonal transitions that affect cognition, confidence, sleep, energy, focus, relationships, and physical comfort, often without language, resources, or workplace understanding."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"995a54a49fe0","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"05a12296d13e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Then we wonder why "},{"_key":"05a12296d13e1","_type":"span","marks":["b8971be5765d"],"text":"burnout rises"},{"_key":"05a12296d13e2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". 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Why "},{"_key":"05a12296d13e3","_type":"span","marks":["a305fa7a9c6e"],"text":"experienced leaders leave"},{"_key":"05a12296d13e4","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"b8971be5765d","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/senior-women-leaders-burnout-emotional-labor"},{"_key":"a305fa7a9c6e","_type":"link","href":"https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2025/10/07/menopause-women-leave-work/86308714007/"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"8efb8a2dd31c","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"5d67e56c38a00","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Beyond healthcare, this is a conversation about organizational performance."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"1de208d89006","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"9277a81a01780","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Leadership Doesn't Happen Outside the Body"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"e84994648f03","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"cf6fbce017a90","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"We often speak about leadership as though it exists independently from the people doing the leading. It doesn't."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"725f1e6b109e","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b94b76f916970","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Leadership happens inside real bodies — ones that age, recover, and change."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"a8d6acda759a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"9e67ad050cf40","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Women's biology isn't static. From menstruation through postpartum, perimenopause, menopause, and beyond, hormonal shifts influence far more than reproductive health. They shape sleep quality, stress response, cognitive performance, emotional resilience, sexual wellness, and physical comfort. And together, they span decades of a woman's life."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"8a43c4a68005","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"0f55b5782c610","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Many workplaces, however, continue operating under assumptions built around a workforce that was never designed with women's physiology in mind."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"741eebf6c74c","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"935e7a64d8590","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The result? Women often spend precious energy "},{"_key":"935e7a64d8591","_type":"span","marks":["bdfc2360dda4"],"text":"managing symptoms privately"},{"_key":"935e7a64d8592","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" while simultaneously leading teams, growing businesses, raising families, and making critical decisions."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"bdfc2360dda4","_type":"link","href":"https://hbr.org/2025/11/new-research-on-how-women-in-leadership-navigated-menopause"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"6e43d0833147","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"286a96db4e170","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Imagine the productivity we could unlock if women didn't have to spend so much energy pretending everything was fine."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"8f91a87521bc","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b6a528f5fd290","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"We Have Mistaken Silence for Strength"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"8eabd09f3409","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"1b57c1d606670","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"One pervading myth in leadership is that professionalism requires invisibility."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"6430f115fe8e","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"a5c0f01eab9a0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Don't mention menopause. Don't talk about painful periods. Don't discuss vaginal dryness. Don't acknowledge declining libido. Don't admit you're waking up at 3 AM every night. Certainly, don't mention pelvic pain."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"3bff141daf9c","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"cc8800e73ee40","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Instead, keep performing. Keep smiling."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"6753e20b0720","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"ee3730025bcc0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Women have become extraordinarily good at managing these realities quietly, but silence has a cost. When people cannot discuss what affects their performance, organizations lose the opportunity to solve for it."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"7a31d232854b","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f585ba4bce2d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"We normalize accommodations for countless aspects of health. Why should women's hormonal health be different?"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"2587b5c5a66c","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"99ed7231ab550","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"We Need to Name Sexual Wellness in the Workplace Conversation"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"bec90b61da0e","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"02043efdfd200","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"This is often the point where people become uncomfortable. Sexual wellness has long been treated as a luxury category — something adjacent to beauty or self-care."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"d0446037e407","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"80c2afbf9bd60","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That framing misses something fundamental: Sexual wellness as an essential part of "},{"_key":"dc3a813655cd1","_type":"span","marks":["765c3dbfb23a"],"text":"whole-person health"},{"_key":"dc3a813655cd2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"765c3dbfb23a","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/category/health-wellbeing"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f5fac037d66d","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"4b2149190727","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Healthy sexuality is deeply connected to physical health, emotional wellbeing, confidence, relationships, sleep, stress, and overall quality of life. When hormonal changes affect intimacy — as they often do during perimenopause and menopause — they don't stop at the bedroom door. They influence confidence, connection, mental health, and emotional resilience."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"4ae8d305f167","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"bc5dcc8e641c0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"How someone shows up at work is inseparable from how they experience life outside of it. And so ignoring sexual wellness doesn't make it less relevant, it simply leaves millions of women unsupported."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"a2cfeead0261","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"068e63f44bee0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"The Companies That Win Will Understand Women's Health"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"310f9a18c749","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"e3efcdc308fa0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"We're entering an era where organizations compete less on salary and more on whether people believe they can build sustainable careers there."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"5cdcf589fcb4","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"122241f8df0b0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Women are paying attention."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"a99229842e3d","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"48ea9db4785a0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"They’re asking, “Does this company understand menopause?” “Do leaders acknowledge caregiving?” “Can I ask for flexibility without risking my reputation?” “Will I still be viewed as ambitious if my health needs change?”"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"8af18e775a63","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"3a811e8ab55a0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"This isn't about corporate generosity."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"5ed783252c09","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"a1d2a1a11e7e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The organizations that answer “yes” will become not only compassionate but competitive. They'll retain experienced leaders, reduce turnover, protect institutional knowledge, improve engagement, and attract the next generation of executive talent."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"322f6d3825bb","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"a76bb8bdbc230","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"The Next Frontier of Leadership"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"heading2"},{"_key":"f6d7e50115d8","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"078af74423350","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The future of leadership isn't about asking women to become more resilient. Women have already proven their resilience."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"08f45eddd727","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"cd33ea09fbb90","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The future of leadership is building organizations that no longer require unnecessary resilience just to succeed."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"8041d88f7433","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"9f699297dbff0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That means recognizing that women's health is not a niche issue or a benefit for a small population. It’s also not a conversation reserved for HR."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f8361a3800bb","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"03cf0adc72f80","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Women’s health requires a "},{"_key":"03cf0adc72f81","_type":"span","marks":["dcaa45b736ff"],"text":"strategic conversation"},{"_key":"03cf0adc72f82","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" with CEOs, boards, investors, and managers, because health directly influences performance, and performance drives business outcomes."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"dcaa45b736ff","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/menopause-at-work"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"8c3258da64f8","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"a261d66be7f10","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"When we invest in women's health, it’s about more than simply improving lives. 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","slug":{"current":"michelle-montville-alloy-health-menopause-leadership"},"isPodcast":null,"megaphoneLink":null,"articleAuthor":{"name":"Chief","slug":{"current":"chief-staff"}},"byline":null,"publishDate":"2026-07-24","episodeImage":{"imageAltTag":null,"asset":null},"heroBackgroundColor":null,"heroImage":{"caption":null,"attribution":null,"altText":"Alloy Health Clinical Director Dr. Michelle Montville","asset":{"id":"image-3cf7f53ce7b96b9a36984bcd3a670c2fdb4f0ae8-2400x1256-png","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/xcsyo6gw/production/3cf7f53ce7b96b9a36984bcd3a670c2fdb4f0ae8-2400x1256.png"}},"id":"-e220620b-6399-5dbc-901d-ff681138d771","category":null,"editorialCategory":{"id":"-d974e953-201b-5fdb-bf81-e47d7c0a9574","title":"Health & Wellbeing","slug":{"current":"health-wellbeing"}},"podcastDescription":null,"podcastTranscript":null,"isSponsored":null,"_rawSponsorship":null,"_updatedAt":"2026-07-24T13:12:51Z","content":[{"_key":"1cc18f8f8109","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"3ea5d25d1a140","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Nearly 1 in 2 women say menopause has impacted their job performance. 42% say it's "},{"_key":"3ea5d25d1a141","_type":"span","marks":["a9f04ae07dc6"],"text":"affected their ambition"},{"_key":"3ea5d25d1a142","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"a9f04ae07dc6","_type":"link","href":"https://fortune.com/well/article/menopause-stigma-survey-women-workplace-ageism/"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"8d00f4af4a57","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"bc44b5ae8afa0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Women are considering early retirement, not because they want to leave, but because no one is giving them the tools to stay at the top of their game."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"1cbdbdb3b944","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"5af0dec473e10","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The symptoms of perimenopause and menopause (brain fog, disrupted sleep, mood shifts, loss of focus) don't clock out when you walk into the office. They show up in your meetings, your decisions, and your energy. And for too long, women have been managing them "},{"_key":"5af0dec473e11","_type":"span","marks":["54fc0615693b"],"text":"in silence"},{"_key":"5af0dec473e12","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", without answers or accommodations."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"54fc0615693b","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/menopause-at-work"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"7aaad6409beb","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b5afb64ffe880","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"We asked Alloy Health's Clinical Director "},{"_key":"b5afb64ffe881","_type":"span","marks":["41c0c6b363f9"],"text":"Michelle Montville, MD"},{"_key":"b5afb64ffe882","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", a Chief speaker, to break down what's happening in the brain during these midlife hormonal shifts. Here’s her advice for what women leaders — and their employers — can do to manage their symptoms and maintain their ambition."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"41c0c6b363f9","_type":"link","href":"https://www.myalloy.com/expert/michelle-montville"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"ce8c8706d788","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"a726aa98651d0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Brain fog is one of the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause women say hits their work hardest. What's happening hormonally that causes this?"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"70e5bcaf4c9a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"73e666b5e9ed0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Estrogen is a brain hormone, not just a reproductive one. Estrogen receptors are densely concentrated in the regions of the brain that govern memory, focus, and executive function. Estrogen also helps regulate the neurotransmitters tied to attention and recall and supports how efficiently the brain uses glucose for fuel."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"4813e913d4a2","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8c67fe43b3370","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The key thing to remember about perimenopause is that "},{"_key":"8c67fe43b3371","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"estrogen doesn't decline in a straight line"},{"_key":"8c67fe43b3372","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". It fluctuates erratically, sometimes swinging high and low within the same cycle. Those swings are what the brain experiences as instability. That can show up as struggling to find a word, losing your train of thought, or walking into a room and forgetting why. And it's often compounded by two other menopause symptoms that independently impair cognition: fragmented sleep and hot flashes."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"8672b5bcf294","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"ac4dc710300a0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That said, I want every woman to hear the reassuring part: this is "},{"_key":"ac4dc710300a1","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"real"},{"_key":"ac4dc710300a2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", it is "},{"_key":"ac4dc710300a3","_type":"span","marks":["6d7c1539091d","strong"],"text":"physiological"},{"_key":"ac4dc710300a4","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", and for most women, it is "},{"_key":"ac4dc710300a5","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"temporary"},{"_key":"ac4dc710300a6","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". Cognition-tracking studies show that processing and memory typically return to baseline once hormone levels stabilize on the other side of menopause. Brain fog is not early dementia, and it is not a sign that you're losing your edge."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"6d7c1539091d","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/category/health-wellbeing"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"9848be782e37","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"5335158afca20","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What kind of symptom treatment or management have you found to be most effective for these types of concentration and memory issues?"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"b781708dd8e2","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"176815de4a760","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"I approach it on two fronts, because cognitive symptoms rarely travel alone."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"357eedd3777e","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"d37268e294b70","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"First, "},{"_key":"d37268e294b71","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"treat the drivers"},{"_key":"d37268e294b72","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". When brain fog is tied to disrupted sleep and hot flashes (which it very often is), addressing those directly can lift the fog, even if we never target cognition itself. For appropriate candidates, hormone therapy can be effective here, largely by stabilizing the vasomotor symptoms and sleep that were eroding daytime focus. Hormone therapy is not currently FDA-approved to treat cognition, and the direct evidence on memory is mixed. The gain is usually an indirect one: better nights + fewer hot flashes = clearer days."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"3427eefd1e32","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"4f62720311670","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Second, "},{"_key":"4f62720311671","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"adjust lifestyle"},{"_key":"4f62720311672","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". A few levers can genuinely move the needle, and they're within every woman's control: regular "},{"_key":"4f62720311673","_type":"span","marks":["5e5db3a6e6ce"],"text":"aerobic exercise"},{"_key":"4f62720311674","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" (which raises the brain's own growth factors) and a Mediterranean-style diet, paired with prioritizing sleep, limiting alcohol, and staying cognitively engaged. Stress management is important, too, as cortisol and anxiety amplify the exact symptoms we're trying to ease."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"5e5db3a6e6ce","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/pvolve-women-midlife-fitness-longevity"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"2910428184a0","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"1dcf2aec72430","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Is there anything women can do to manage cognitive symptoms in real time, especially during high-visibility moments like presentations?"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"7bb19aa36252","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f83724e7e56e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A few things that help in the moment:"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"aee99df5bba8","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f6bcefccfab70","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Lean on external scaffolding"},{"_key":"f6bcefccfab71","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". Notes, bullet prompts, an outline on the screen. These techniques help free up working memory."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"8654c81d9f4c","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"d1c38fb346eb0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Manage physical triggers"},{"_key":"d1c38fb346eb1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". If a hot flash tends to hit under pressure, plan for it: wear layers you can remove, have a cold drink within reach, a cooler room. Lowering the body temperature can minimize the cognitive impact."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"156dc22bc9cf","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8e0dbc43be310","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Use your breath"},{"_key":"8e0dbc43be311","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". A few slow exhales before you speak dampens the stress response that makes word-finding worse."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"47ce721593eb","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"68a88afa24ae0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Reframe the pause"},{"_key":"68a88afa24ae1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". If you lose a word mid-sentence, remember that a brief pause often reads as composure, not a lapse. The catastrophizing (“Ah, everyone noticed!”) can do more damage than any pause. And drawing humor to our “menopause moments” can also be a tool that humanizes us and connects us to our audience."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"d6c333cf3114","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"ade3ea5fecba0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Sleep disruption can also play a major role in leadership performance. For women who are experiencing poor sleep because of a hormonal transition, what information do you recommend they bring to their doctor to start a conversation?"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"8d3d16e3e5e9","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"7dae249e84fa0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Come with hard data, which turns a vague complaint into a clinical picture your doctor can act on. 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What would you say to a woman who's considering stepping back from a leadership role because of the symptoms they’re experiencing?"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"ed37abc51245","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f7b8746f58de0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"I'd ask them to separate two things: the phase and the trajectory. Menopause symptoms are very real and can be very disruptive, which I'd never minimize. But they are also, in the vast majority of cases, both treatable and temporary. Making a permanent decision about your career during the most turbulent stretch of a transition is like redrawing the map in the middle of a storm."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"36fd2f5f5b7c","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8dda46ed95440","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"So, before they step back, I'd want them to step toward treatment. Ideally, with a menopause-informed clinician who takes their symptoms seriously and knows the current options. Time and again, women who felt they were losing their capacity discover that, once their sleep is restored and their symptoms are managed, the sharpness they thought they'd lost was never actually gone. It was just buried under exhaustion and unmanaged symptoms."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"6c842575b578","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"7de1febbcb230","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The ambition statistic breaks my heart, precisely because it's so avoidable. Menopause is a chapter that you can thrive in, with the right care. Many women describe the years after as some of the most focused and self-assured of their careers."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"3366d4129681","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"ca6cb012a1ea0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"From an organizational standpoint, beyond greater awareness around perimenopause and menopause, what concrete workplace accommodations would make a difference for women leaders who are experiencing hormonal change?"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"206b919fc0d5","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"21ae3b2904ff0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The accommodations that matter are refreshingly practical:"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"7dace48cfff9","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"84523d92bd350","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Temperature control"},{"_key":"84523d92bd351","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". Cooler workspaces, access to fans, and flexibility on dress codes. These are easy, cost-effective, and directly address the most disruptive symptom."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"0a7e2ed1e329","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"3b95a532211f0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Flexibility in when and where work happens"},{"_key":"3b95a532211f1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". Hybrid and flexible scheduling let women manage the days of poor sleep without it costing them visibly."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"b1f969bd8ba5","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"240f613c246f0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Quiet, private spaces"},{"_key":"240f613c246f1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". Somewhere to reset during a hot flash or a hard morning; the same courtesy we'd extend to any health need."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"9b1e85ecf974","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b27cf98603d40","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Meetings designed for cognitive load"},{"_key":"b27cf98603d41","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". Recorded sessions, written agendas, and follow-up notes support anyone navigating brain fog and, frankly, make meetings better for everyone."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"b1297c8d8edd","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"be3dece492040","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Benefits that actually cover menopause care"},{"_key":"be3dece492041","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". Coverage for menopause-informed clinicians and treatment signals that the organization is taking things seriously."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"511c849c65d3","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"6d31bc793df20","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Manager literacy"},{"_key":"6d31bc793df21","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". Train leaders to recognize what's happening and respond without stigma, so a woman never has to choose between their health and their standing."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"aed7a0f826d0","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"9bfdcd9245430","_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":"Chief Members: Still have questions about your midlife health? Connect with a menopause-trained physician through your exclusive member perk from Alloy. Visit "},{"_key":"9bfdcd9245431","_type":"span","marks":["ae886b05b00e","em"],"text":"the Chief app"},{"_key":"9bfdcd9245432","_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":" to learn more."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"ae886b05b00e","_type":"link","href":"https://members.chief.com/"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"b5441c6d5a0f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"a5ad5290c90c0","_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":"Members can also join Dr. Kudzai Dombo, Alloy Health's Director of Advocacy and Outreach and a prescribing physician, for "},{"_key":"a5ad5290c90c1","_type":"span","marks":["0ae0d4754220","em"],"text":"an open support group"},{"_key":"a5ad5290c90c2","_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":" to discuss common myths surrounding perimenopause and menopause."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"0ae0d4754220","_type":"link","href":"https://members.chief.com/events/1048fdef-c8e2-40fe-986e-65e4824d3167/details"}],"style":"normal"}],"supportingContent":null,"_rawEditorialCategory":{"_id":"71ee14c3-8926-418e-97e0-2e738cd11cac","_type":"category","_rev":"kuh6IZ2IntHupgeCe7EXM5","_createdAt":"2025-10-09T14:09:34Z","_updatedAt":"2025-10-26T18:20:40Z","description":"Discover strategies for supporting women's health in the workplace, from managing burnout to navigating fertility and menopause.\n","hideFromNav":false,"seo":{"_type":"seoFields","seoDescription":"From mental health and burnout to fertility and menopause, discover how leaders and organizations can support women’s health and wellbeing in the workplace with insights from Chief.\n","seoMetaTitle":"Chief | Women's Health & Wellbeing - Women's Mental Health at Work"},"slug":{"_type":"slug","current":"health-wellbeing"},"title":"Health & Wellbeing","id":"-d974e953-201b-5fdb-bf81-e47d7c0a9574","children":[],"parent":null},"article_related_series":null},"slug":"michelle-montville-alloy-health-menopause-leadership","heroImage":{"caption":null,"attribution":null,"altText":"Alloy Health Clinical Director Dr. Michelle Montville","asset":{"id":"image-3cf7f53ce7b96b9a36984bcd3a670c2fdb4f0ae8-2400x1256-png","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/xcsyo6gw/production/3cf7f53ce7b96b9a36984bcd3a670c2fdb4f0ae8-2400x1256.png"}},"content":[{"_key":"1cc18f8f8109","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"3ea5d25d1a140","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Nearly 1 in 2 women say menopause has impacted their job performance. 42% say it's "},{"_key":"3ea5d25d1a141","_type":"span","marks":["a9f04ae07dc6"],"text":"affected their ambition"},{"_key":"3ea5d25d1a142","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"a9f04ae07dc6","_type":"link","href":"https://fortune.com/well/article/menopause-stigma-survey-women-workplace-ageism/"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"8d00f4af4a57","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"bc44b5ae8afa0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Women are considering early retirement, not because they want to leave, but because no one is giving them the tools to stay at the top of their game."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"1cbdbdb3b944","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"5af0dec473e10","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The symptoms of perimenopause and menopause (brain fog, disrupted sleep, mood shifts, loss of focus) don't clock out when you walk into the office. They show up in your meetings, your decisions, and your energy. And for too long, women have been managing them "},{"_key":"5af0dec473e11","_type":"span","marks":["54fc0615693b"],"text":"in silence"},{"_key":"5af0dec473e12","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", without answers or accommodations."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"54fc0615693b","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/menopause-at-work"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"7aaad6409beb","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b5afb64ffe880","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"We asked Alloy Health's Clinical Director "},{"_key":"b5afb64ffe881","_type":"span","marks":["41c0c6b363f9"],"text":"Michelle Montville, MD"},{"_key":"b5afb64ffe882","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", a Chief speaker, to break down what's happening in the brain during these midlife hormonal shifts. Here’s her advice for what women leaders — and their employers — can do to manage their symptoms and maintain their ambition."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"41c0c6b363f9","_type":"link","href":"https://www.myalloy.com/expert/michelle-montville"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"ce8c8706d788","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"a726aa98651d0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Brain fog is one of the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause women say hits their work hardest. What's happening hormonally that causes this?"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"70e5bcaf4c9a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"73e666b5e9ed0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Estrogen is a brain hormone, not just a reproductive one. Estrogen receptors are densely concentrated in the regions of the brain that govern memory, focus, and executive function. Estrogen also helps regulate the neurotransmitters tied to attention and recall and supports how efficiently the brain uses glucose for fuel."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"4813e913d4a2","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8c67fe43b3370","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The key thing to remember about perimenopause is that "},{"_key":"8c67fe43b3371","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"estrogen doesn't decline in a straight line"},{"_key":"8c67fe43b3372","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". It fluctuates erratically, sometimes swinging high and low within the same cycle. Those swings are what the brain experiences as instability. That can show up as struggling to find a word, losing your train of thought, or walking into a room and forgetting why. And it's often compounded by two other menopause symptoms that independently impair cognition: fragmented sleep and hot flashes."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"8672b5bcf294","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"ac4dc710300a0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That said, I want every woman to hear the reassuring part: this is "},{"_key":"ac4dc710300a1","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"real"},{"_key":"ac4dc710300a2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", it is "},{"_key":"ac4dc710300a3","_type":"span","marks":["6d7c1539091d","strong"],"text":"physiological"},{"_key":"ac4dc710300a4","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", and for most women, it is "},{"_key":"ac4dc710300a5","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"temporary"},{"_key":"ac4dc710300a6","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". Cognition-tracking studies show that processing and memory typically return to baseline once hormone levels stabilize on the other side of menopause. Brain fog is not early dementia, and it is not a sign that you're losing your edge."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"6d7c1539091d","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/category/health-wellbeing"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"9848be782e37","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"5335158afca20","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What kind of symptom treatment or management have you found to be most effective for these types of concentration and memory issues?"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"b781708dd8e2","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"176815de4a760","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"I approach it on two fronts, because cognitive symptoms rarely travel alone."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"357eedd3777e","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"d37268e294b70","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"First, "},{"_key":"d37268e294b71","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"treat the drivers"},{"_key":"d37268e294b72","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". When brain fog is tied to disrupted sleep and hot flashes (which it very often is), addressing those directly can lift the fog, even if we never target cognition itself. For appropriate candidates, hormone therapy can be effective here, largely by stabilizing the vasomotor symptoms and sleep that were eroding daytime focus. Hormone therapy is not currently FDA-approved to treat cognition, and the direct evidence on memory is mixed. The gain is usually an indirect one: better nights + fewer hot flashes = clearer days."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"3427eefd1e32","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"4f62720311670","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Second, "},{"_key":"4f62720311671","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"adjust lifestyle"},{"_key":"4f62720311672","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". A few levers can genuinely move the needle, and they're within every woman's control: regular "},{"_key":"4f62720311673","_type":"span","marks":["5e5db3a6e6ce"],"text":"aerobic exercise"},{"_key":"4f62720311674","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" (which raises the brain's own growth factors) and a Mediterranean-style diet, paired with prioritizing sleep, limiting alcohol, and staying cognitively engaged. Stress management is important, too, as cortisol and anxiety amplify the exact symptoms we're trying to ease."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"5e5db3a6e6ce","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/pvolve-women-midlife-fitness-longevity"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"2910428184a0","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"1dcf2aec72430","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Is there anything women can do to manage cognitive symptoms in real time, especially during high-visibility moments like presentations?"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"7bb19aa36252","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f83724e7e56e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A few things that help in the moment:"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"aee99df5bba8","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f6bcefccfab70","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Lean on external scaffolding"},{"_key":"f6bcefccfab71","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". Notes, bullet prompts, an outline on the screen. These techniques help free up working memory."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"8654c81d9f4c","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"d1c38fb346eb0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Manage physical triggers"},{"_key":"d1c38fb346eb1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". If a hot flash tends to hit under pressure, plan for it: wear layers you can remove, have a cold drink within reach, a cooler room. Lowering the body temperature can minimize the cognitive impact."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"156dc22bc9cf","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8e0dbc43be310","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Use your breath"},{"_key":"8e0dbc43be311","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". A few slow exhales before you speak dampens the stress response that makes word-finding worse."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"47ce721593eb","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"68a88afa24ae0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Reframe the pause"},{"_key":"68a88afa24ae1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". If you lose a word mid-sentence, remember that a brief pause often reads as composure, not a lapse. The catastrophizing (“Ah, everyone noticed!”) can do more damage than any pause. And drawing humor to our “menopause moments” can also be a tool that humanizes us and connects us to our audience."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"d6c333cf3114","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"ade3ea5fecba0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Sleep disruption can also play a major role in leadership performance. For women who are experiencing poor sleep because of a hormonal transition, what information do you recommend they bring to their doctor to start a conversation?"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"8d3d16e3e5e9","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"7dae249e84fa0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Come with hard data, which turns a vague complaint into a clinical picture your doctor can act on. I'd bring:"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"06372019a663","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"ccf7a5fcb6b40","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A one-to-two week "},{"_key":"ccf7a5fcb6b41","_type":"span","marks":["9932d2f12b5d","strong"],"text":"sleep log"},{"_key":"ccf7a5fcb6b42","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", including when you fall asleep, how often you wake, and what wakes you (night sweats are a telling clue that this is hormonal)."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[{"_key":"9932d2f12b5d","_type":"link","href":"https://chief.com/articles/ai-womens-health-midlife"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"2a21e53543b8","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8b36ebdd2c420","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A symptom timeline"},{"_key":"8b36ebdd2c421","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" connecting the sleep changes to other menopause signs (cycle changes, hot flashes, mood shifts) so the hormonal link is visible."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"fdcec7fe11d1","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"12246eb343750","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Your caffeine, alcohol, and medication list"},{"_key":"12246eb343751","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", since all three affect sleep architecture."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"e7a742443bed","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"d575358bfc780","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Any signs of sleep apnea"},{"_key":"d575358bfc781","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" (which becomes markedly more common in midlife women and is frequently missed), including loud snoring, gasping, or waking unrefreshed despite enough hours."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"13c8be916472","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"2ddbecb73beb0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And start with a direct question: \"Could my sleep problems be related to perimenopause, and what are my options?\" That framing opens up a deeper conversation, rather than a reflexive prescription for a sleep aid."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"d03b85e387d8","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"e74708f5f1a30","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"As we mentioned, 42% of women say menopause has affected their ambition. What would you say to a woman who's considering stepping back from a leadership role because of the symptoms they’re experiencing?"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"ed37abc51245","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f7b8746f58de0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"I'd ask them to separate two things: the phase and the trajectory. Menopause symptoms are very real and can be very disruptive, which I'd never minimize. But they are also, in the vast majority of cases, both treatable and temporary. Making a permanent decision about your career during the most turbulent stretch of a transition is like redrawing the map in the middle of a storm."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"36fd2f5f5b7c","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8dda46ed95440","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"So, before they step back, I'd want them to step toward treatment. Ideally, with a menopause-informed clinician who takes their symptoms seriously and knows the current options. Time and again, women who felt they were losing their capacity discover that, once their sleep is restored and their symptoms are managed, the sharpness they thought they'd lost was never actually gone. It was just buried under exhaustion and unmanaged symptoms."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"6c842575b578","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"7de1febbcb230","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The ambition statistic breaks my heart, precisely because it's so avoidable. Menopause is a chapter that you can thrive in, with the right care. Many women describe the years after as some of the most focused and self-assured of their careers."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"3366d4129681","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"ca6cb012a1ea0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"From an organizational standpoint, beyond greater awareness around perimenopause and menopause, what concrete workplace accommodations would make a difference for women leaders who are experiencing hormonal change?"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"206b919fc0d5","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"21ae3b2904ff0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The accommodations that matter are refreshingly practical:"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"7dace48cfff9","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"84523d92bd350","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Temperature control"},{"_key":"84523d92bd351","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". Cooler workspaces, access to fans, and flexibility on dress codes. These are easy, cost-effective, and directly address the most disruptive symptom."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"0a7e2ed1e329","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"3b95a532211f0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Flexibility in when and where work happens"},{"_key":"3b95a532211f1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". Hybrid and flexible scheduling let women manage the days of poor sleep without it costing them visibly."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"b1f969bd8ba5","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"240f613c246f0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Quiet, private spaces"},{"_key":"240f613c246f1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". Somewhere to reset during a hot flash or a hard morning; the same courtesy we'd extend to any health need."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"9b1e85ecf974","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b27cf98603d40","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Meetings designed for cognitive load"},{"_key":"b27cf98603d41","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". Recorded sessions, written agendas, and follow-up notes support anyone navigating brain fog and, frankly, make meetings better for everyone."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"b1297c8d8edd","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"be3dece492040","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Benefits that actually cover menopause care"},{"_key":"be3dece492041","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". Coverage for menopause-informed clinicians and treatment signals that the organization is taking things seriously."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"511c849c65d3","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"6d31bc793df20","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Manager literacy"},{"_key":"6d31bc793df21","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". Train leaders to recognize what's happening and respond without stigma, so a woman never has to choose between their health and their standing."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"aed7a0f826d0","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"9bfdcd9245430","_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":"Chief Members: Still have questions about your midlife health? Connect with a menopause-trained physician through your exclusive member perk from Alloy. Visit "},{"_key":"9bfdcd9245431","_type":"span","marks":["ae886b05b00e","em"],"text":"the Chief app"},{"_key":"9bfdcd9245432","_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":" to learn more."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"ae886b05b00e","_type":"link","href":"https://members.chief.com/"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"b5441c6d5a0f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"a5ad5290c90c0","_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":"Members can also join Dr. Kudzai Dombo, Alloy Health's Director of Advocacy and Outreach and a prescribing physician, for "},{"_key":"a5ad5290c90c1","_type":"span","marks":["0ae0d4754220","em"],"text":"an open support group"},{"_key":"a5ad5290c90c2","_type":"span","marks":["em"],"text":" to discuss common myths surrounding perimenopause and menopause."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"0ae0d4754220","_type":"link","href":"https://members.chief.com/events/1048fdef-c8e2-40fe-986e-65e4824d3167/details"}],"style":"normal"}]},"href":"https://chief.com/articles/joy-allen-altimare-womens-health-leadership","relatedArticles":[]}},
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