Menopause-Informed Leadership
A Co-Learning Experience for Women Leaders in International Schools
What do hot flashes, brain fog, fatigue, weight gain and mood swings have to do with school leadership? If you’re a woman between the ages of 40 and 60, you already know the answer. Menopause and its little sister Peri.
Too many women leaders I work with are navigating this inevitable phase of life alone without appropriate guidance or a support network. They are managing symptoms privately, worried that hot flashes during leadership meetings and brain fog during critical decisions will undermine their hard-won authority. Many are doing all of this on their own (and sleep-deprived), because menopause remains oddly taboo in professional spaces. Many are being dismissed by medical professionals who aren’t trained in menopause, and by colleagues and family members who simply don’t understand what’s happening.
This needs to change.
Introducing Menopause-Informed Leadership A 4-Month Co-Learning Experience for Women Leaders in International Schools.
This is neither therapy or medical advice. It's a structured cohort program that combines current research, experience-sharing, strategy-shaping and collective advocacy to help you navigate this transition with clarity and power, both personally and organizationally.
Here's what we'll cover over four 90-minute sessions:
Session 1: Understanding the Landscape What's actually happening in your body and brain: the science behind the symptoms, why cognition is affected, and how long this typically lasts. (No more agonized guessing or chats with Claude.ai at 3 am.)
Session 2: The Leadership Impact
How menopause intersects with your specific leadership role, and what adaptive strategies actually work. We'll look at real scenarios and build your personal toolkit for leading effectively during this transition.
Session 3: Advocacy & Systems Change Moving beyond individual coping to organizational support. What makes schools challenging environments for menopause (and its younger sister peri)? What do progressive organizations do differently? How do you advocate for change at your school?
Session 4: Integration & The Long Game Reframing menopause as a leadership development stage rather than a liability. What are you learning? How do you want to lead through and beyond this transition?
The Details:
Four monthly sessions: February 17, March 17, April 21, May 19 • 13:30-15:00 CEST
Cohort size: Maximum 12 participants (intimate and confidential)
What you'll receive: Research-backed content, facilitation materials, resources you can share with your school, and a peer community who understands this experience
Investment: $650 USD Early Bird: First 6 to register pay $595
This is a pilot. I'm developing this program because it's needed, and I want your experience to inform how it evolves. You'll be helping shape something that could support many more women leaders going forward.
Who this is for:
Women leaders in international schools who are in perimenopause, menopause, or post-menopause - whether you're struggling with symptoms or simply want to understand what's happening and advocate for better workplace conditions. You don't have to be suffering to benefit from this program.
Who this isn't for:
Anyone looking for medical advice, treatment recommendations, or therapy. I'll share current research and what options exist, but decisions about treatment are between you and your healthcare provider.
Ready to stop managing this alone? Register here.
Questions? Email me at bridget@sidecarcounsel.com. I'm happy to talk through whether this is right for you.