EP 104: Breaking the Silence: Dr. Manna Semby on Career Transitions, Perimenopause, and Thriving in Midlife

🎧 From Boardrooms to Brain Health  She climbed the ranks on Wall Street. Then she left it all behind to become a doctor. Dr. Manna Semby has a lot to say about reinvention, resilience, and thriving in midlife. In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo speaks with Dr. Manna Semby, founder of Aruna Personalized Medicine, functional medicine doctor, and former Vice President at Goldman Sachs. Drawing on her own journey from finance to healthcare, Dr. Manna shares how career pivots, layered identities, and health all intersect to shape how we lead and thrive. We explore how leaders can protect their cognitive edge through transitions, why decision-making style is a hidden superpower, and how organizations can reframe midlife health as a performance and equity strategy—not a taboo. This conversation is about more than perimenopause or career change—it’s about the courage to design work and life that honor all of who you are. What You’ll Learn 🧠 Protecting Cognitive Edge How the brain–hormone–metabolism axis shapes leadership energy, focus, and resilience. 🔄 Career Reinvention Why Dr. Manna left a VP role at Goldman Sachs to pursue medicine—and what it takes to pivot with purpose. 💡 Decision-Making as a Superpower How knowing your decision-making style can transform both career moves and life satisfaction. 🌍 Intersectionality in Action How immigrant identity, motherhood, caregiving, and corporate experience inform her practice and advocacy. 🏢 Workplace Change Why ERGs and HR leaders must create brain- and menopause-ready cultures to retain talent and sustain performance. About Our Guest Dr. Manna Semby, ND, MSCP, IFMCP is a functional medicine doctor and founder of Aruna Personalized Medicine. Formerly a Vice President at Goldman Sachs, she brings an insider’s perspective to the health needs of career women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. Her Aruna Method targets the brain–hormone–metabolism axis to protect cognitive edge, metabolic resilience, and long-term vitality. Today she partners with corporations to deliver executive education and implement menopause-supportive policies that strengthen retention, performance, and culture. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Manna: Website: arunamed.com  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/manna-semby  Instagram: @drmannasemby  Brain Health Quiz: arunamed.com/brainquiz  Video: Brain Clarity & Renewal Program  About the Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo is the CEO of EQImindset and founder of the nonprofit Immigrants in Corporate Inc. She helps organizations move inclusion from intention to impact through strategy, storytelling, and workplace communities. A scientist-turned-ERG strategist, speaker, and author, Lola is passionate about amplifying voices at the intersections of identity and work. Join the Conversation If today’s episode resonated with you: ⭐ Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover it. 📲 Share your takeaways and tag us on LinkedIn. 🌍 Immigrant and first-gen professionals: Join our free community at immigrantsincorporate.org  for career support, networking, and resources. Keep thriving in your intersections—your story matters.   Send us Fan MailSupport the showThank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo.This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives.💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you.❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences.⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations.📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at:www.immigrantsincorporate.orgConnect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn.Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.