Why World Menopause Day Speakers Matter for Everyone

It’s Not Just About Women

World Menopause Day happens every October 18th. Most people think it’s just for women going through menopause, but that misses the point.

Menopause affects the whole workplace. If you’re a manager, a colleague, or someone who’ll go through it someday, this matters to you too.

Here’s why everyone should care about menopause awareness at work.

What Actually Happens at Work

When someone’s dealing with menopause symptoms – fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, hot flushes – it affects how they work. But most people suffer quietly because they’re worried about how others will react.

This silence costs businesses in real ways:

• You lose experienced women at the height of their careers
• People hide struggles that could be addressed with simple support
• Teams miss out on understanding how to work better together

Bringing in someone who can explain what’s actually happening helps everyone respond more thoughtfully.

Why Men Need to Understand This

Men are often managers, team members, partners, and sons of women going through menopause. Many just don’t know what it involves or how to help.

When men understand menopause:

• They respond with empathy instead of confusion when a colleague seems different
• Male managers feel more confident supporting their team members
• They can actually help partners at home instead of feeling helpless

It’s not about becoming a menopause expert. It’s about understanding enough to be supportive rather than awkward.

Why Younger Employees Should Care

If you’re in your 20s or 30s, menopause might seem irrelevant. But think about it:

• You might go through it yourself one day
• Your mother, aunt, sister, or other family members might be dealing with it right now
• Learning to talk openly about these topics makes workplaces better for everyone

Plus, if you understand what your older colleagues are going through, you can be a better teammate today.

Why Leaders Can’t Ignore This

Senior leaders set the tone for what gets talked about and what doesn’t. If leadership treats menopause as something to whisper about or avoid, employees won’t feel safe asking for support.

Leaders who engage with menopause awareness:

• Show that supporting people through life changes is part of good management
• Keep valuable employees who might otherwise leave
• Create workplaces where people can be honest about what they need

When leadership takes something seriously, everyone else pays attention.

How Speakers Make a Difference

Booking a menopause speaker isn’t about ticking a box. It’s about starting conversations that actually lead somewhere.

A good speaker can:

• Explain what menopause is without making it sound scary or medical
• Share real stories that help people understand the experience
• Give managers practical ideas for how to support their teams
• Make the whole topic feel normal rather than embarrassing

The goal is to turn “I don’t know how to handle this” into “I know how to be helpful.”

We work with menopause speakers who can talk to mixed audiences – not just women, not just people going through menopause, but everyone who needs to understand it.

Elizabeth Joseph – Menopause and Women’s Health & Wellbeing Activist

Sharon MacArthur (Miss Menopause) – Uses humour and practical advice to make the topic approachable for corporate audiences.

Fiona Mckay –  The Menopause Career Coach™ and founder of The Menopause Maze. A former CEO, she created the NOPAUSE™ Method to help women in leadership navigate menopause without pausing their careers.

These speakers understand that the goal isn’t just education – it’s changing how people think and act.

Planning an Event That Works for Everyone

Don’t make it women-only Market your menopause event to all staff. Get senior leaders involved. Make it clear that this is workplace education, not a support group.

Choose speakers who can engage mixed audiences The Speakers Agency can recommend someone who can talk to men and women, younger and older employees, managers and individual contributors. The best speakers adjust their message for the whole room.

Follow up with action The speaker event should be the beginning, not the end. Use it to start policy discussions, manager training, or team conversations about how to support each other better.

Making It Normal to Talk About

Menopause happens to roughly half the population. Whether you’re going through it, managing someone who is, or living with someone affected by it, it’s part of life.

World Menopause Day is a chance to stop treating it like a secret. With the right speaker, you can help your organisation move from awkward silence to practical support.

That benefits everyone – the people going through menopause, the people who work with them, and the workplace culture as a whole.

Check out our roster of Menopause Speakers to see who can educate your workforce at your next event.