M A G A Z I N E
Leading Through a New Type of Change - My Hormonal Changes
Adelle Martin “Keeping Women in Business”
This is my personal story sharing how I had to learn to lead through a new type of “Change” due to the “Clash of my Change & Career Curves” – my menopause.
In response to “my clash” I created a new way for businesswomen to lead themselves, family, and career. There were no leadership books at the time of “my clash” and still none today, that would have ever prepared me for leading through menopause. Yes, this is my personal leadership story. But more importantly, I have put pen to paper as I do not want businesswomen going through what I did. Businesswomen need knowledge with solutions to lead themselves and family through their hormonal changes alongside their career. My Leadership Story – The Career Curve My leadership journey started as a resilient 5-year-old girl. At the time I was called bossy (it was the mid 70’s) but as a gymnast and dancer I started to lead the younger children with their activities. At one event we were called back on stage and asked our names. That bossy child froze and forgot her name (a little like menopause) and the audience erupted into laughter. I was devastated and left the stage graciously with a speech impediment that would impact me for life. That resilient little girl did get back up and learnt how to manage the impediment. It did not stop me building a rewarding leadership career spanning three decades in London. Although, little did I know that 35 years later I would leave the Boardroom at the height of my career due to menopause. Why? I was in the Boardroom presenting, not only did I forget my name (like the 5-year-old on stage) I also forgot what I was presenting on! The Boardroom went very quiet, I made my excuses and left graciously with my speech impediment making an unwelcome return. Was my leadership career finished?
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