Before the madness of autumn hits, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for reading my newsletters this first half of 2026. This year has been eventful with new partnerships, some brilliant sessions with maritime companies who are genuinely leading on this, and conversations I couldn't have imagined having four years ago when I left my corporate career.

And it's about to get busier.

October is World Menopause Awareness Month, and if your organisation hasn't started the conversation yet, it's a good moment to begin. It can start with one open conversation, one manager who knows what to say, one team that feels safe enough to talk. I've got talks lined up, new collaborations starting, and new clients coming on board. And quietly in the background, the UK's 2027 legislation is coming: Every organisation with 250+ employees will need a Menopause Action Plan. I love watching companies get ahead of it rather than scramble. If you want to know where yours stands right now, the quiz is a good place to start: Take it here.

Something I'm particularly excited about: Menopause in maritime is becoming a real conversation. I've been running regular webinars with Spinnaker - the maritime people and culture specialists, and the engagement has been encouraging. This sector moves people around the world, keeps supply lines running, and has historically been one of the tougher environments for women. Next week I'm heading to Liverpool to visit Bibby Marine - my first time in the city, and it turns out Liverpool is twinned with my hometown, Stavanger. Small world.

I'm also excited to close the year at a major women's health at work conference in Oslo, where I'll be speaking about menopause in maritime. If you haven’t booked already make sure to get your place, it's going to be a very impactful day! Find out more here

One small thing for right now, though: The heatwave

If you're finding hot flushes worse during the recent heat, you're not imagining it. The BBC covered this brilliantly this week, and heatwaves are, as Dr Nighat Arif, NHS GP specialising in women's health, puts it, a "cardiovascular stress-test" for women.

Falling oestrogen makes your body's internal thermostat far more sensitive to outside temperature, and during a heatwave you may have more frequent and severe hot flushes and night sweats. The science backs it up. A few simple things help:

• Water throughout the day (not just when you remember)

• Lighter fabrics

• Cooling your neck and wrists rather than blasting AC on your whole body

• Going easier on caffeine and alcohol this week.

If you manage a team, this is a good week to make sure cold water and a fan are just normal office things, not a fuss.

On a personal note, I'm running the London Marathon on 25th April 2027 for The Seafarers Charity, and training is already underway. Given the tensions we're all watching unfold at sea right now, supporting the people who keep the world moving, and their families, feels more important than ever. I will keep you updated on progress, this certainly feels a big challenge. If you feel encouraged to support the seafarers charity and my marathon training journey it would mean a lot, and here's the fundraising link

Before October arrives, some questions worth sitting with

World Menopause Awareness Month tends to produce a lot of content. Campaigns, pledges, awareness posts. What it produces less of is honest internal conversation. So here are a few questions I'd encourage you to actually ask -  of yourself, your team or whoever owns this in your organisation.

On your workforce: Do you actually know who's most affected by menopause in your organisation right now and whether they feel able to say so? If the honest answer is no, that's the starting point.

On the gap: You probably have something written down somewhere, a policy, a commitment, a value. Does it match what people actually experience day to day? 

On the men: Middle-aged men are often supporting partners through menopause at home, while managing women going through it at work and often without realising it. Where does that conversation happen for them in your organisation, if at all?

On ambition: If your organisation became genuinely known for getting this right, what would that look like? What would make you proud?

On timing: October is coming. Is it a moment you're going to use, or one you're going to let pass?

I hope your summer has some proper rest in it, and wish you a good one! 

Torild