Ep. 202: Leading Through Menopause: Strategies for Success

Host: Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky, Clinical Director of the Menopause and Perimenopause Program at Medcan

Panelists: Janet Ko, President & Co-Founder of The Menopause Foundation of Canada and Salima Valji, CEO of Unleash Forward Inc.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Menopause costs the Canadian economy $3.5 billion a year. Many women suffer through their symptoms in silence in the workplace, with fears of being criticized, isolated or even terminated. At Medcan, we’re working hard to fight against the stigma surrounding menopause. Here, we feature our recent webinar, Leading Through Menopause: Strategies for Success. Joined by Janet Ko, President of the Menopause Foundation, and Salima Valji, CEO of Unleash Forward, Inc., Clinical Director of Menopause and Perimenopause, Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky, covers critical topics on menopause awareness and support in the workplace. The panelists debunk myths about hormone therapy and breast cancer risk, offer valuable tips for advocating for menopause-related needs in the workplace, and share resources to empower women and foster supportive environments at work.

LINKS

• Medcan’s Menopause and Perimenopause Program led by Dr. Jennifer Zelovitkzy, offers six months of comprehensive, holistic support that is personalized to your unique symptoms and concerns.
• More Eat Move Think podcast episodes that cover women’s health: 
• Episode 201: Decoding by the Decade
• Episode 200: What It’s Like to See A Menopause Specialist
• Episode 188: Your Women’s Health Questions, Answered
• Episode 176: HRT & Menopause Misconceptions
• Janet Ko is the President and Co-Founder of The Menopause Foundation, where you’ll find a helpful symptom tracker among other useful resources.
• Salima Valji is the CEO and Founder of Unleash Forward Inc., a purpose driven leadership accelerator focused on elevating women and people of color to senior leadership roles and board positions. 
• Find more helpful resources at The Menopause Society (formerly known as the North American Menopause Society).
• More references and research: 
• The Menopause and Work in Canada report by the Menopause Foundation breaks down the economic impact of menopause. 
• Closing the women’s health gap: A $1 trillion opportunity to improve lives and economies by The McKinsey Health Institute
• Read a recent critical review of the Women’s Health Initiative, which created societal distrust in the efficacy and safety of hormone replacement therapy.

Plus, our panelists’ favourite women’s health books to add to your bookshelf.

• Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky’s pick: Estrogen Matters: Why Taking Hormones in Menopause Can Improve Women's Well-Being and Lengthen Their Lives -- Without Raising the Risk of Breast Cancer by Dr. Avrum Bluming and Dr. Carol Tavris
• Janet Ko’s pick: The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health With Facts And Feminism by Dr. Jen Gunter
• Salima Valji’s pick: The Menopause Brain: New Science Empowers Women to Navigate the Pivotal Transition with Knowledge and Confidence by Dr. Lisa Mosconi

To stay in touch with our panelists, you can connect with Janet Ko and Salima Valji on LinkedIn.

KEY MOMENTS

0:00:09 - Introduction and first poll assessing menopause knowledge

0:02:34 - Discussion of stigma around menopause and lack of research funding 

0:03:18 - Impact of menopause on working women and workplaces in Canada

0:11:29 - Debunking myths about hormone therapy and breast cancer risk

0:13:29 - Challenging common myths and misconceptions about menopause 

0:16:56 - Tips for advocating for needs related to menopause in the workplace

0:21:56 - Poll assessing concern about menopause's impact on careers  

0:25:43 - Advice on disclosing menopause symptoms professionally

0:30:01 - Resources for creating menopause-inclusive workplaces 

0:34:42 - Book recommendations for learning more about menopause