Season 2, episode 13: Sarah Connor

In this episode, Sarah Connor shares how her own unexpected experience with perimenopause led her to become a powerful advocate for change. Through her initiative Menopause Over Martinis, she’s helping break the silence around menopause and create open, supportive conversations in communities and workplaces. Sarah highlights how little many people know about menopause, the wide range of symptoms women face, and the impact it can have - especially at the peak of their careers. She emphasises the importance of education, empathy, and practical workplace support, as well as including men in the conversation. As a guest speaker and advocate, Sarah facilitates conversations and shares resources about menopause/ruahinetanga with workplaces, networks and associations all over Aotearoa and the world. So far, Sarah has shared her lived experience and knowledge with 50+ organisations including Air New Zealand, Xero, Sharesies, the New Zealand Defence Force, Inland Revenue, MBIE, various city councils and the PPTA. She’s also a writer and campaigner for change. While Sarah is not a doctor, she’s been exploring, writing and talking about menopause since 2019 when perimenopause impacted every aspect of her health and wellbeing in a significant way. www.sarahconnor.co.nz www.menopauseovermartinis.org www.women.govt.nz/menopause - an online guide to help organisations, regardless of type and size, be informed, and supportive of employees going through menopause https://www.women.govt.nz/gender-pay-gaps/gender-pay-gap-toolkit - helping employers understand, measure, and take action to close gender pay gaps https://www.women.govt.nz/womens-safety/free-lead-toolkit - supporting women with a public profile or who use online spaces as part of their mahi, and their employers, to be safe online https://www.women.govt.nz/women-leadership/register-with-BoardConnector - supporting women interested in governance positions within the public sector by sharing opportunities about available roles and training opportunities https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-connor-075b68161/ https://www.instagram.com/sarahconnor_stories/ www.jessstuart.co.nz