970: LEADERSHIP MINDSET: 2026 Trends for Midlife Women That Prove Our Power Is Peaking

There is no denying that 2025 has been a doozy for women and anyone carrying a marginalized identity.  AND… I’m seeing midlife women step into a completely new season of power, clarity, and momentum. We are the backbone of everything strong and sustainable, including our companies, our communities, and our families. For decades, we've been the stabilizers, culture shapers/shifters/carriers, and trust-builders, and now organizations and society are finally waking up to the value of lived experience, emotional intelligence, and the quiet leadership skills we’ve built while carrying so much.  There is a growing recognition that our wisdom isn’t just nice to have, it’s our essential secret sauce, what sets us apart, what gives us undeniable collective power, and what is critically needed in workplaces, community organizations, and all sectors of government. We are also seeing a movement in reinvention. Mid-life women are moving up, out, around, and into what actually fits. We’re starting businesses, staking a claim, demanding appreciation, and refusing to shrink or settle. This is happening while we’re in the middle of a full-blown Health Revolution. We are normalizing perimenopause and menopause care, nervous-system support, rest, play, and renegotiating the division of caregiving labor in all environments. We’re leading this shift, no longer just whispering about it in the shadows, and it’s changing how we work, lead, and live.  And maybe the most powerful shift of all? Our confidence is starting to come from authenticity over performance. We’re tired of proving, perfecting, and pleasing. Showing up real, grounded, values-led, a little quirky, and deeply human is becoming the new leadership standard women are setting for ALL. We’re reframing our struggles as strengths—whether that’s caregiving experience, neurodivergence, or navigating perimenopause. This matters because there is real momentum available to us if we pay attention.  This episode will inspire you to think differently about your power, take bold action, and ask yourself a few critical questions to inform your 2026 decision-making. Links Mentioned: [Open Enrollment] Join Sara’s Aligned Leadership Incubator: saradean.com/aligned Hire me to speak: saradean.com/speaking Coach with me: https://saradean.com/executive-coaching-services Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradeanspeaks Watch Shameless Leadership episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@saradeanspeaks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices