About Pat Duckworth

Hi, I’m Pat Duckworth, the Founder of Smarter Menopause. I am a Women’s Health and Workplace Menopause Strategist specialising in working with businesses and organisations who are committed to supporting women colleagues at menopause

When I started going through perimenopause I was working in public service as a Senior Civil Servant. I was also studying for an MBA to improve my promotion opportunities.

I thought I understood menopause and how to cope with it. But the reality was that I was feeling stressed and like my brain had gone out of focus. I thought that I needed new glasses so that I could see more clearly. I had been a champion sleeper before, but now every night was disturbed. I knew that I couldn’t talk to my manager about what I was experiencing. In fact, I couldn’t talk to anyone at work.

I needed to take action. I needed to take care of my health in order to get through the menopause transition with my sanity and career intact.

At that time, there weren't many menopause education resources available. I did my own research and made changes to my nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle to support my health. I realised that more fundamental changes were required.

Over the next twelve months I enrolled on a part-time course to become a therapist and coach. I took early retirement and set up in practice.  Two years later, I wrote my first book ‘Hot Women, Cool Solutions’ to bring together everything I had learnt from my own experience and working with clients to relieve menopause symptoms.

Now, I want to pay it forward. I don’t want other women to have to struggle through this transition on their own. I am determined to make sure they can remain healthy and visible, and achieve their dreams at midlife and beyond.

Although there have been many advances in support in the workplace in recent years, there are still so many organisations and employers who don’t understand the impact that menopause can have and the risks involved in ignoring this issue. I work with these organisations to break down the taboo and create a more inclusive workplace for everyone.

From research and from my experience I understand that when women receive appropriate support in the workplace they are able to work more efficiently and effectively. Women who feel they can speak openly to their managers about what they are experiencing are likely to have less sick absence, better relationships with colleagues and improved morale

That process starts with giving leaders and managers the information and knowledge they need to understand how menopause can affect their female colleagues.

In 2020 I wrote 'Menopause Mind the Gap: The Value of Supporting Women's Wellness in the Workplace' to provide employers and managers with the basic knowledge they require. You can download the first chapter for fee using the link above.