Women of a Certain Stage

In this episode, Lauren welcomes Sally, a graduate of the Women of a Certain Stage Menopause Coach diploma program who spent decades in executive search, specializing in C-Suite placements and working with some of the most senior women in corporate leadership. Sally's story is one of intentional transformation—leaving behind a high-powered career not because she had to, but because she wanted to explore what came next. Despite sailing through menopause relatively symptom-free herself, Sally was drawn to the program as a lifelong learner who recognized the profound connection between women's midlife transitions and the executive exits she witnessed throughout her career. This conversation explores the "mahogany veneer" of wisdom Sally accumulated through thousands of executive interviews, the patterns she observed in senior women's confidence (or lack thereof), the guilt that high-achieving women carry across all aspects of life, and why she believes at least 50% of women leaving C-Suite roles are doing so because of menopause—even though it's rarely discussed. Sally shares her insights on what it takes to help senior executives break free from their "chrysalis," the power of truth-telling wrapped in compassion, and why she's committed to using her accumulated wisdom to support women through their next chapter. Key Points Covered: • The Mahogany Veneer of Wisdom: After decades in executive search conducting thousands of interviews across multiple cultures, industries, and geographies, Sally describes herself as having accumulated a "mahogany veneer"—not mica, but genuine depth—touching on so many aspects of leadership and humanity that it creates profound wisdom. • The Hidden Menopause-Executive Exit Connection: Sally estimates that at least 50% of women leaving C-Suite roles are doing so because of menopause, yet this connection is rarely (if ever) discussed in conjunction with executive transitions. She's exploring research from CIPD, ACAS, Bank of America, and other financial institutions to investigate this further. • Why She Trained Despite Not Suffering: Sally was fortunate to sail through menopause with minimal symptoms, but was drawn to the program as a lifelong learner (having completed a master's degree in her 40s and Montessori teacher training in her 30s) who wanted to keep developing skills and expanding knowledge—even if she wasn't initially sure how she'd use it professionally. • Scratching the Surface of C-Suite Women: Despite impressive accomplishments and senior positions, Sally consistently found that C-Suite women have remarkably little confidence when you scratch the surface. She wonders how much of this is influenced by perimenopause and menopause symptoms that go unrecognized or unaddressed. • The Transition Crisis: Senior executives—both men and women—struggle profoundly when moving from executive to non-executive careers. Women in particular often feel lost, despite decades of achievement, when making this transition. • The Sacrifice Required for C-Suite Success: Women who reach C-Suite positions often sacrifice family life, social connections, spiritual development, health, and other life domains in pursuit of excellence. The constant guilt of "never doing anything as well as you should be" at work, with family, or with friends becomes an exhausting burden. • Double Standards in Leadership: Behaviors that are acceptable and even celebrated in men are deemed "unacceptable" or "aggressive" in women. Sally describes being called an "agitator" or "up for yourself" simply for having opinions and speaking out against unfairness—behaviors that would be called "leadership" in male colleagues. • Higher Standards for Women: Women are measured differently and held to higher standards,...