This episode was recorded as part of Podcasthon 2025, a global initiative raising awareness for charities worldwide and inspiring millions of listeners to care, act, and make a difference.

For our contribution, we are dedicating this episode to The Menopause Foundation of Canada and are grateful to its President and Co-Founder, Janet Ko for sharing her story with us.

Like many women, Janet Ko was blindsided by perimenopause. Despite assurances from multiple medical professionals that she was quite healthy, she felt quite ill. So much so that her unmanaged symptoms negatively impacted her career trajectory and her quality of life. The injustice of this all-too-common experience is what prompted Janet to co-found The Menopause Foundation of Canada, sparking a national conversation and leading the charge with research and facts that society can no longer afford to ignore.

In This Episode:

• Women should not accept poor health during menopause.
• Menopause should be viewed as a health transition, not just an end to reproductive life.
• Awareness and education about menopause are crucial for women and healthcare providers.
• Creating menopause-inclusive workplaces can help retain talented women.
• Access to menopause care is a human right, and yet women are still struggling with menopause.

Learn more about the Menopause Foundation of Canada:

Website 

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LinkedIn

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Janet Ko Bio

Janet Ko is the President and Co-Founder of the Menopause Foundation of Canada, a national nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of menopause and its impact on women and society. A passionate advocate for women’s health, she is committed to closing the menopause knowledge gap and improving access to care and treatment.

Janet is on a mission to redefine menopause-shifting the narrative from stigma to renewal, strength, and wisdom. She sees menopause as a crucial health transition that demands better support from the medical community, government, workplaces and society. Like many women, she was unprepared for menopause and knows firsthand how unmanaged symptoms can hold women back. Determined to drive change, she cofounded the Menopause Foundation of Canada, launching landmark research and advocacy campaigns that ignited a national conversation and spurred meaningful action.

An award-winning leader in strategic communications, Janet has spearheaded innovative thought leadership initiatives on ageism, intergenerational learning, and menopause in the workplace. She has held senior executive roles across diverse health-related sectors, bringing a depth of expertise to her advocacy. A compelling speaker and champion for change, she was recognized as one of the Top 25 Women of Influence in 2023 for her impact and leadership.