Thriving Through Menopause: Empowering Women and Workplaces with Lauren Chiren

In this powerful and insightful episode, Dr Andrew Greenland is joined by Lauren Chiren, founder and CEO of Women of a Certain Stage, to explore the often-overlooked intersection of menopause and professional life. With lived experience of early menopause and a high-flying career in financial services, Lauren left the corporate world to become a leading global advocate for menopause awareness and education.

Lauren shares her personal journey, the challenges she faced, and how those experiences fuelled her mission to ensure no one is left navigating menopause alone. Together, we discuss practical strategies for individuals going through the menopause transition and how organisations can become truly menopause-inclusive—boosting wellbeing, retention, and performance in the process.

Whether you’re personally experiencing menopause, supporting someone who is, or a leader looking to create a healthier, more supportive workplace culture, this episode offers real-world advice, empowering stories, and actionable takeaways.

About Lauren Chiren:
Lauren is the founder and CEO of Women of a Certain Stage, an organisation dedicated to helping people and employers globally understand menopause and its impact. She has delivered menopause awareness training to global brands, including Microsoft, Pfizer, and the NHS, and has contributed to government inquiries on menopause in the workplace. Lauren is also an executive coach, and regular media commentator.

Connect with Lauren:
Website: www.womenofacertainstage.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laurenchiren
Email: hello@womenofacertainstage.com

#MenopauseAwareness #WorkplaceWellbeing #WomensHealth #Leadership #FunctionalMedicine #BrainHealth #Perimenopause #MenopauseSupport

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Transcript

Dr Andrew Greenland (AG):
Good afternoon, listeners of the Vital Signs podcast. I’m Dr Andrew Greenland, and I’m very pleased to introduce today’s guest, Lauren Chiren. Lauren is the founder and CEO of Women of a Certain Stage, an organisation dedicated to supporting both individuals and organisations through menopause and related life transitions. 

This is such an important topic—not just medically, but socially and professionally. Lauren, welcome to the podcast. Could you start by telling us a bit about your journey, and how you went from being a senior executive in financial services to leading this incredible movement?  

Lauren Chiren (LC):
Thanks, Andrew. Women of a Certain Stage wasn’t originally meant to be a business. It grew out of my own experience. In my early forties, I thought I had early-onset dementia. At the time, I was working in a global leadership role, managing large, high-stakes transformation projects across different time zones. I thrived in my work—until things started to change. 

I experienced anxiety, heart palpitations, and severe insomnia—sometimes sleeping less than two hours a night. I had moments where I couldn’t remember that I’d already been to work that day. It was terrifying. 

Eventually, I saw my GP, and three months later, he correctly identified that I was postmenopausal. I had probably become menopausal around age 37 but didn’t realise because I was breastfeeding and on contraception that masked my periods. I was so relieved it wasn’t dementia—I punched the air with joy! From there, I realised how important it was to educate others, especially given my background in human performance, psychology, and health. That’s where it all began.  

AG:
Incredible. Cognitive changes like brain fog or memory lapses can really alarm women—especially if they don’t associate it with menopause. How common are those kinds of symptoms?  

LC:
Very. Brain fog, anxiety, and sleeplessness are some of the most commonly reported symptoms. In fact, around 81% of women in a UK government survey cited sleep disruption as a major issue. That said, everyone’s journey is unique, and symptoms can appear in different combinations and at different times.  

AG:
Tell us more about Women of a Certain Stage. What do you do? Who is it for?  

LC:
It began with small women’s circles—just sharing experiences. That evolved into working with organisations. I asked women: “What could your employer have done to support you better?” From there, we started helping companies develop policies, strategies, training, and even building design adjustments—like accessible wash basins inside toilet cubicles for women dealing with heavy bleeding or incontinence. 

We also run an academy to train menopause coaches, mentors, and champions. I love training coaches because it multiplies the impact—we’re tackling needless suffering at scale.  

AG:
And how do you explain menopause and perimenopause in simple terms?  

LC:
Menopause is defined retrospectively: once you’ve had 12 consecutive months without a period, you’re menopausal. After that, you’re postmenopausal. Perimenopause is the transition leading up to that point—typically in your late 30s to early 40s—where oestrogen and progesterone levels start to fluctuate. 

Symptoms might include changes in cycle regularity, PMS, mood swings, joint pain, poor sleep, and more. The average age of menopause in the UK is 51.  

AG:
What are some common misconceptions about menopause that you often come across?  

LC:
The biggest one? That it only affects older women. Or that it’s just hot flushes and your periods stopping. Actually, it’s a huge physiological transition that can impact every system in the body. But I see it as a celebration—it’s a time of renewal. You’ve gained so much life experience and wisdom. There’s a whole second half of your adult life to look forward to.  

AG:
Tell us more about your coaching programme.  

LC:
It’s an 8-week diploma with 7 core modules. We start with mindset, which is essential. Then we cover hydration, nutrition, movement, community, giving back, and asking for help—something many women struggle with. 

Participants include doctors, therapists, HR professionals, personal trainers, and women returning to the workforce. It’s holistic and experiential—helping people understand what works for them.  

AG:
Do your coaches work one-to-one or with organisations?  

LC:
Both. Some work with individuals, some with corporates, some in healthcare. One of our Macmillan nurse graduates has even helped set up a network of menopause clinics in the NHS. Coaches use the training in all sorts of ways—group sessions, workshops, one-to-ones.  

AG:
And you mentioned you have male coaches too?  

LC:
Yes, about 3% so far. It’s less about gender and more about empathy and understanding. One male coach, whose marriage nearly broke down during his wife’s menopause, now works with couples to navigate the transition together. It’s incredibly powerful.  

AG:
What can organisations do to support menopause at work, especially if they’re small?  

LC:
Start with awareness. Host a menopause coffee morning. Open up the conversation. Ask, “Would someone going through menopause feel supported in this workplace?” 

We offer a free programme called Menopause: The Basics—three short sessions covering definitions, how to navigate menopause, and why it matters at work. It’ll be available on-demand from April 2025 at www.womenofacertainstage.com.  

AG:
And how about progress on a societal level?  

LC:
We’ve made progress. Menopause is now part of the medical school curriculum as of 2024, and it’s been in school health education since 2019. But we need employers to embed menopause support into policies and culture. 

We’re also building a growing library of evidence-based content for our coaches and clients. My personal goal? To train 20,000 menopause coaches before I retire.  

AG:
That’s incredible. If people want to learn more, how can they find you?  

LC:
Visit www.womenofacertainstage.com for info on our programmes and free resources. I’m also on LinkedIn—just search for Lauren Chiren.  

AG:
Lauren, thank you for your time and the incredible work you’re doing. It’s been a real pleasure. 

LC:
Thanks so much, Andrew. It’s been a joy.