From Crisis to Connection: Celebrating Midlife with Menopausal Women Who Inspire

As many of my long-term readers—and those who've been trapped next to me at networking events—will know, last year I made the bold, possibly bonkers, decision to swap London life for leafy Bedford. Why? Well, a combination of hot flushes, forgotten names, and the dawning realisation that perimenopause and HR consultancy were a match made in hormonal hell.

Nighat Arif (TV GP), Azma Pearce, Me, Anita Powell  (Wonder Woman), Kate Muir (Author) and Lucy Anesi

Picture it: I’m mid-SLT meeting, meant to be dazzling the execs with my strategic brilliance... and I’ve clean forgotten the CEO’s name. Cue awkward silence and a strong desire to vanish into the nearest potted plant. It didn’t take long to realise that high-stakes consulting and brain fog don’t exactly go hand-in-hand. So, with my hormones doing the cha-cha and my sanity waving the white flag, I decided life was nudging (read: shoving) me in a new direction.

So, I relocated to Bedford—smack-bang between key family members—adopted a slightly nutty rescue pooch, and enrolled in Personal Development Coaching with The Coaching Academy. Reader, I qualified! But as anyone who’s started their own business knows, getting the certificate is like buying the trainers—you still have to run the marathon. And I was doing it all without my usual support crew nearby.

Once I’d finished arguing with builders and learning how to bleed radiators (don’t ask), I started networking in earnest. Now, let me be clear—networking has never been my superpower. I’m more likely to remember your dog’s name than your job title (yes I understand the irony there, being HR). So launching myself into rooms full of strangers, as a “woman of a certain age” with LinkedIN QR codes and brain fog? Terrifying.

But then… magic happened. I found the menopause community. Enter stage left: Anita Powell, founder of Bedford Menopause Alliance and all-round wonder woman. Anita gave me a warm welcome, shared her wisdom, and opened doors I didn’t even know existed. Thanks to her, I found myself doing paid speaking gigs and meeting some genuinely brilliant women.

Fast-forward to last night: Anita invited me to the launch of Kate Muir’s new book How to Have a Magnificent Midlife Crisis (yes please). It was my first ever networking event full of menopausal women and their allies, and let me tell you—it was like being wrapped in a massive, metaphorical group hug. I left with sore cheeks from smiling and a heart full of hope. And a deeper connection with my Menopause Alliance Peers; Lucy Anesi and Azma Ahmed-Pearce.

I also had the surreal pleasure of meeting Dr Louise Newson—a.k.a. The Menopause Oracle—whose work genuinely saved my sanity when I was fobbed off with antidepressants instead of HRT. Seeing her in real life brought a bit of a lump to my throat. And her sister, Sarah Newson, is equally brilliant (seriously, is there something in the family vitamins?).

Then there were the fab folks from Menopause X there—Kath Church, Roisin McCarthy and some of their team—who are doing incredible things with data, tech, and workplace menopause support, along with Katherine Church. As a former tech company employee who loves a good spreadsheet, I was buzzing. With new employment legislation on the horizon, big employers will soon be expected to publish menopause and gender equality action plans. Menopause X are ahead of the curve and making waves.

But of course, the main event was Kate Muir herself—clever, funny, and warm. The room positively vibrated with affection for her and her witty, soulful writing. I’ll admit, I hadn’t read her before (shame on me), but five pages into her book and I understood the fanfare. She’s that good. My gran used to say, “Nice begets nice,” and honestly? The whole evening felt like proof of that.

There was laughter, vulnerability, free-flowing hugs (yes please again), and the kind of fierce feminine support that makes you think—“Maybe I really can do this.”

So here I am, back in Bedford, still occasionally forgetting names but more convinced than ever that career coaching for menopausal women is exactly where I need to be. Last night reminded me that midlife doesn't have to be a crisis—it's can be a catalyst too.

Here’s to building, blooming, and maybe even collaborating with some of the incredible women I met. Watch this space (and universe, consider this my official pitch!).

#MenopauseMatters #MidlifeCareerChange #MagnificentMidlife #CareerCoachingForWomen #MenopauseSupportUK #WomenSupportingWomen #PerimenopausePower #ReinventionAtMidlife