Why High-Performing Women Struggle Through Perimenopause.

This episode of ZZ Exchange covers perimenopause and leadership — the hormones, burnout, and nervous system changes behind why so many high-performing women can't just push through anymore. What's really happening during perimenopause — and why are so many high-performing women finding that the strategies that have always worked aren't enough? In this episode of ZZ Exchange, I sit down with women's health physician Dr. Jolene Kennett to talk about hormones, nervous system regulation, HRT, sleep, and why this is as much a leadership conversation as it is a health one. We go beyond the standard wellness advice and into the real mechanics: what progesterone actually does, why cortisol and weight gain are more connected than most women realise, why "just manage your stress" misses the bigger picture, and what personalised hormone replacement therapy looks like when it's done properly. We also talk about why so many women in leadership roles continue performing through symptoms they don't fully understand, and what changes when you stop treating perimenopause as something to push through and start treating it as something to understand. In this episode, we discuss: Why perimenopause affects far more than reproductive health The connection between progesterone, sleep, anxiety, and nervous system regulation Why high-performing women often mistake physiological change for personal failure How hormone replacement therapy should be personalized, reviewed, and supported with a long-term plan Why lifestyle, recovery, and medical care work best together rather than in isolation The hidden cost of continuing to “push through” without understanding what’s changing Dr. Kennett also shares her practical approach to supporting women through perimenopause, including why every treatment plan should begin with understanding a woman’s daily life, her goals, and the season she’s currently navigating. If this changed how you think about what your body's been telling you, share it with a woman who needs to hear it. Chapters: 00:08 Introduction: Perimenopause, Leadership & Women’s Health 03:18 Why So Many Women Feel “Off” in Perimenopause 04:44 Hormones, Progesterone & Nervous System Regulation 06:35 Cortisol, Weight Gain & Why Everything Is Connected 09:04 The Hidden Cost of Performing Through Perimenopause 12:55 Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Risks, Benefits & Myths 17:40 GLP-1 Medications During Perimenopause Explained 20:19 Coach’s Corner: Preparing for Perimenopause Earlier 21:06 Finding the Right Women’s Health Practitioner 22:57 Why Sleep Is the Foundation of Hormonal Health 24:57 Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Navigate This Alone 🎧 Listen to more episodes on our ZZ Exchange playlist:    • ZZ Exchange | Real Conversations. Shared G...   🎧 Listen anytime, anywhere. ZZ Exchange is also available on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/70uWrLf... Thanks for watching! #Perimenopause #WomenInLeadership #LeadershipBurnout About Dr. Jolene Kennett Dr. Jolene Kennett is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor and founder of CareMed Integrative Health Centre in North Vancouver. Since beginning her clinical practice in 2006, she has supported patients through a wide range of health concerns, combining naturopathic and functional medicine with a strong focus on whole-person care. Her work spans integrative medicine, hormone balance, pelvic health, weight management, and chronic illness support, alongside medical aesthetics such as Botox, fillers, PRP, and chemical peels. Dr. Kennett is known for bridging clinical precision with a practical, patient-centered approach that meets people where they are. Beyond the clinic, she is an entrepreneur, mother of four, and founder of Shipyards Health in Lower Lonsdale. About ZZ Exchange ZZ Exchange is a short-form interview series hosted by Ainsley Ericksen, founder of ZenZero. Each episode explores leadership, identity, career transitions, and the human side of growth through conversations with experienced leaders and professionals. New episodes monthly. 🎙️ Subscribe to ZZ Exchange for more grounded conversations on leadership, growth, and the human side of work. ZenZero Resources: Website: https://zenzeroconsulting.com/ Email: [email protected] LinkedIn:   / ainsleyericksen     / zenzero-coaching-consulting   Instagram:   / zenzeroconsulting   Threads: https://www.threads.com/@zenzeroconsu... Dr. Jolene Kennett Resources: Website: https://caremedhealth.com/ Email: [email protected] LinkedIn:   / dr-jolene-kennett-nd-74757631   Instagram:   / caremedhealth   Facebook:   / caremedhealth   Pinterest:   / drjkennett