Episode 372: Take on Board event: Empowering boards through menopause

Today on the Take on Board podcast, it’s the Take on Board community Q&A event with Sarah Gray on managing perimenopause and menopause in the boardroom. This is the event that followed our mid-July conversation about managing perimenopause and menopause in the boardroom.

So today, the women of the Take on Board community gathered to ask questions about whether boards should have a menopause policy, how to handle resistance from people who think women should just “get on with the job,” and practical ways chairs and directors can create supportive conditions.

Sarah recommends starting with education and awareness before policy, putting menopause on the governance agenda, and creating practical supports like comfortable meeting environments, earlier board papers, buddying up, confidential routes to seek help, and permission for short comfort breaks.

She also discusses confidence and self-perception, encourages seeking feedback, and offers nutrition tips for meetings—hydration and brain-supporting snacks such as nuts and seeds (including walnuts) instead of lollies.

Sarah is also an alumnus of the KickStarter program, having completed it in 2022.