When Menopause Walks into the Workplace: A Real Client Case in Helping Midlife Women Thrive (and Helping Employers Reduce Hidden Costs)

Roundtable Talk with Deneatra Ford

Presentation length: 30 minutes + 15 minutes Q&A

In the session, Deneatra will share a de‑identified client case where unmanaged menopause symptoms (fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, mood shifts, sleep disruption) were significantly affecting both daily life and work performance, and walk through how she approached assessment, education, and personalized nutrition/lifestyle coaching fully within GAIN’s scope of practice, including collaboration with licensed practitioners where needed. Deneatra would highlight what worked and what didn’t in navigating shame, resistance, and “just push through” conditioning, and illustrate the dual impact on the client (symptom relief, confidence, energy) and their workplace (reduced absenteeism, improved focus and engagement). Deneatra will close with several practical tools that other coaches can immediately apply with midlife women in their own practices.

Deneatra Ford is a Licensed Holistic Nutrition Practitioner (GAIN‑LHNP), Women’s Health Advocate, and founder of Smart Wellness Canada and S.M.A.R.T. Workplace Wellness™. After 20+ years in corporate retail leadership, she now helps organizations treat menopause and midlife health as a strategic workplace issue, blending evidence‑informed nutrition, practical strategies, and business‑savvy program design. Through coaching, workshops, and employer education, Deneatra supports women to navigate perimenopause and menopause with confidence while helping companies reduce stigma, retain talent, and build more inclusive workplaces.