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Ahead of IMEX Frankfurt, Holly Patrick caught up with Ciara Feely, sales strategist, sales builder and author, to hear about her Tough Talks session on the impact of menopause in the workplace…

HP: Ciara, you’ve got an impressive CV comprising hospitality, sales, marketing, venue finding and more recently writing sales strategy programmes. Now to add to that, you’re bringing menopause to the attention of the meetings industry. What got you talking about menopause on a global stage?

CF: Growing up, I didn't educate myself on menopause at all and I was 47 before I realised I was completely menopausal. I was very unprepared for it.

While the menopause experience varies from woman to woman, a common theme seems to be a lack of education and we really have to change that.  

About this time last year, I was sitting in my kitchen, and I wasn’t feeling myself. It was just one of those days. But then I had this thought, ‘I have to talk about menopause at MPI World Education Congress in Mexico.’

I emailed Jessie States, who's the vice president of the MPI academy, and within a few minutes, she emailed me back and asked for a session description. Then I went on to collaborate with IMEX last year to get menopause on the agenda.

In Mexico, we had over 100 women in the room. There’s a desire to learn, to talk and to listen.

HP: Do you have to be an expert to talk about menopause?

CF: Leading up to the session at WEC I realised I didn’t know enough. I was worried people would think I was a menopause expert, but I’m not, I’m just someone who has experienced it. So, I did loads of research and learned so much about it.

I thought to myself, ‘Ciara, why didn’t you do this years ago?’ because knowledge is power and when you have that knowledge, you’ll understand that menopause isn’t just a physical change, it’s also a neurological change and it’s understanding those changes are related to menopause.

HP: We talk a lot about the negative impact of menopause, but are there any silver linings?

CF: Oh, absolutely and I want to emphasise that side of menopause during the session.

There's a lot of stuff about the negative side of menopause, such as the mood swings and the hot flashes. But there's also a positive side to it where I feel I'm growing into myself again, like I did in my 20s.

I'm growing into the new version of Ciara, I'm embracing a transformation, there's a wisdom there, there's a calmness there, and you really don’t care as much about what people are thinking of you.

HP: What can IMEX Frankfurt attendees expect from your Tough Talks session?

CF: IMEX attendees coming along to this session can expect a campfire-style discussion. There’s no stage, there’s no podium, there are no slides. The session is all about creating a safe space where we can talk about menopause.

For example, when we did this session at IMEX America last year, people were discussing their experiences and one woman was talking about a rash, a bad, annoying rash that she used to get on her neck. She has tried loads of different creams, but no matter what she tried, it didn’t work. She told us that this rash was affecting what she was wearing, how she felt and how well she could do her job as an event planner. Then someone else in the session spoke up and recommended a cream she hadn’t tried yet. And it worked!

HP: What would you say to the people who don’t think this session is for them?

CF: Why wouldn’t they put themselves first? It's that important.

I wish that I had learned so much more about menopause before I reached it, but there weren't these kinds of sessions at conferences five years ago.

It’s all about the communication piece and what that can lead to. If we start talking about menopause in the workplace now, then it can lead to menopause policies which lead to attracting the right talent.

Educating yourself about menopause can also help you be a better colleague and a better leader because you’ll recognise the signs of menopause, and you can help.

Tough Talk: The menopause matters at work: Let's talk about why

Wednesday, 15 May 2024, 12:00 - 12:45, Logos, Level 9.1, Hall 9