Women in Midlife at Work: Menopause Support Strategies That Deliver ROI

In this episode, Lauren sits down with Ellie — HR professional, menopause coach graduate, and founder of Herself — for an honest and inspiring conversation about navigating midlife, menopause, and the courage it takes to build something new while still showing up fully in your day job.Ellie shares her personal journey through perimenopause, how it collided with a pivotal career crossroads, and how discovering the Women of a Certain Stage Menopause Coaching Diploma gave her a framework to bring together her passions for people, health, and workplace wellbeing.Together, Lauren and Ellie explore why menopause is not just a personal health issue — it's a workplace issue with a compelling business case behind it. They talk about the real cost of unsupported women in the workplace, upcoming legislative changes, and why experienced women in senior roles deserve better.This episode is also a masterclass in stepping out of your comfort zone — from doing a global talk with barely any notice, to recording a podcast without a script. If you've ever talked yourself out of doing something because you didn't feel ready, this one's for you.In This Episode We Cover:00:00 Introduction01:19 Ellie's background in HR and marketing — and the pivot that changed everything03:27 The manifestation book that kickstarted Ellie's goal-setting (and why it wasn't too woo woo)06:13 Launching Herself — a female coaching space built around the Art of Self10:19 What is a biohacking studio and why Ellie is obsessed with one15:50 How the Menopause Coaching Diploma aligned with Ellie's passions19:09 Taking two weeks unpaid leave to fully immerse in the diploma — and why it was the best decision she made25:08 Cohort magic — what made this group of learners so special29:02 Where Ellie wants to be in 12 months36:03 The nervous system, cortisol, and why calming your adrenal health matters in menopause38:18 The workplace menopause conversation — legislation, data, and the business case41:01 Ellie's advice for anyone sitting on the fence about the diplomaKey Takeaways:One in ten women leave their jobs due to unmanaged menopausal symptoms — and around 70% report feeling unsupported at work. The cost to business is significant.Upcoming changes to the Employee Rights Bill (expected 2027) will require businesses to report on their menopause support.The nervous system is central to menopause health — when cortisol and adrenaline are chronically elevated, inflammation rises and symptoms worsen.You don't have to feel ready to start. Doing the thing — the talk, the podcast, the diploma — is how confidence is built.The Menopause Coaching Diploma isn't just for menopausal women. As Ellie puts it, it's a whole self audit — relevant to everyone.Connect with Ellie:Herself — coming soonResources Mentioned:Women of a Certain Stage Menopause Coaching Diploma — womenofacertainstage.comOura Ring — ouraring.comMeet Your Host — Lauren ChirenLauren Chiren is a leading voice in menopause awareness and workplace inclusion, dedicated to ensuring no one navigates menopause alone. As Founder and CEO of Women of a Certain Stage, she works with organisations worldwide to create menopause-savvy and supportive environments.Find out more: womenofacertainstage.comConnect with Lauren:LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter/X