After two decades climbing the corporate ladder in finance, Karissa Pfeffer hit what she thought was burnout. As a working mom navigating the pandemic, she blamed her exhaustion, anxiety, and brain fog on postpartum recovery and work stress. But at 41, she discovered the real culprit: perimenopause. This revelation transformed her understanding of what women over 40 experience in the workplace—and why 13% of women leave their careers due to unmanaged menopause symptoms.
In this episode, Karissa shares her journey from high-achieving corporate executive to certified health coach and founder of Perimenopause Power. She reveals why midlife career changes often happen when women are struggling with undiagnosed hormonal shifts, how nervous system regulation is the missing piece in perimenopause management, and what companies must do to stop losing their most experienced female employees. If you're a woman over 40 wondering why you feel "off," or if you're an employer watching talented women walk away, this conversation will change everything you thought you knew about midlife transition and workplace wellbeing.
What You'll Learn:
How to recognize perimenopause symptoms in women over 40 — Why fatigue, anxiety, and brain fog aren't "just stress" and can start as early as 35
Why nervous system regulation matters more than diet for perimenopause — The cortisol connection between stress, hormones, and that stubborn midlife weight gain
How women over 40 can reclaim energy during perimenopause — Simple daily practices that actually move the needle without adding more to your plate
Why 13% of women leave careers due to menopause symptoms — The shocking workplace cost of unaddressed perimenopause (and how to prevent it)
What companies should do to support women in perimenopause — Practical policies that save money while keeping talented employees thriving
How to make midlife career transitions with hormonal shifts — Why understanding your body changes everything about navigating work and life after 40
Starting over at 40 as an entrepreneur with perimenopause — How Karissa built a thriving business while managing symptoms and redefining success
Key Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction3:30 - The moment Karissa realized it wasn't burnout—it was perimenopause8:00 - Why symptoms can start at 35 and last for years before diagnosis13:00 - The breaking point: taking a company buyout at 4118:30 - Why nervous system regulation matters more than most people realize24:00 - The cortisol-perimenopause connection and midlife weight gain29:00 - Five-minute practices that actually reduce symptoms35:00 - Why 13% of women leave careers due to perimenopause40:00 - What companies must do to support women in this transition45:00 - Setting boundaries in your 40s and saying no without guilt50:00 - Redefining success: making less money but being happier
Key Takeaways:
For women over 40 experiencing unexplained symptoms: Perimenopause can start as early as 35. If you're exhausted, anxious, or dealing with brain fog that you're attributing to "just stress," get your hormones checked—and remember that nervous system regulation is just as important as diet and exercise.
For midlife women considering career changes: Before you assume you're burnt out or failing, rule out perimenopause. Understanding what's happening in your body changes everything about how you manage your energy and make career decisions.
For employers of women over 40: The cost of losing experienced female employees to unmanaged perimenopause is astronomical—$650K to $1.2 million for even small companies. Simple accommodations like flexible work policies, education, and support can save money while keeping top talent.
Featured Quote:
"I'm not crazy. My hormones are." — Karissa Pfeffer
Resources & Links:
Karissa's Coaching Collective: Affordable group coaching for women navigating perimenopause www.perimenopause-power.com/collective
Connect with Karissa: Instagram: @perimenopause-power; https://www.linkedin.com/in/karissa-pfeffer/
Related Uplifters Episodes:
Shannon Russell: Second Act Career Success
Melanie Cohen: Design Your Healthy Life Strategy
Lisa Crozier: Sobriety and Purpose After 40
Jennifer Maanavi: Building Physique 57 in Midlife
About Karissa Pfeffer:
Karissa Pfeffer is a certified health coach and founder of Perimenopause Power, dedicated to helping women over 40 understand what's happening in their bodies during perimenopause so they don't have to leave their careers. After spending over a decade in corporate finance and data analytics, Karissa experienced firsthand the devastating impact of undiagnosed perimenopause—the exhaustion, anxiety, and brain fog that she initially attributed to postpartum recovery and work stress. At 41, she took a company buyout hoping for relief, only to discover her symptoms were hormonal.
Now, Karissa works with individual women through coaching and with corporations to provide education and policy changes that keep talented midlife women thriving in the workplace. Her mission is rooted in a powerful statistic: 13% of women leave their careers because of unaddressed menopause symptoms. Through Perimenopause Power, she's determined to change that number by empowering women with knowledge, practical tools, and community support. Her approach emphasizes nervous system regulation, sustainable habits, and self-compassion—helping women reclaim their energy, confidence, and careers during this often-misunderstood life transition.
About Your Host:
Aransas Savas is a wellbeing and leadership coach specializing in helping women over 40 navigate midlife transitions, career changes, and second-act reinvention. With 20+ years of behavioral research experience partnering with companies like Disney, Weight Watchers, and Best Buy, she hosts The Uplifters Podcast, featuring women doing transformative work in the second half of their lives. Aransas brings both research rigor and personal experience to conversations about courage capital, midlife transformation, and building meaningful second acts. She understands the unique challenges of perimenopause and career, having navigated her own midlife reinvention while supporting thousands of women through theirs.
Connect with Aransas:
Instagram: @aransas_savas
Podcast Instagram: @the_uplifters_podcast
TikTok: @theuplifterspodcast
Facebook: Aransas Savas
Website: theuplifterspodcast.com
YouTube: @theuplifterspodcast
LinkedIn: Aransas Savas
Keywords:
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