5 Ways AI Can Support Menopausal Leaders With Clarity, Confidence, and Calm
- Brainz Magazine
- Apr 17
- 5 min read
Bianka is a Dramatherapist and Systemic Leadership Consultant with extensive experience in empowering female leaders through innovative therapeutic techniques and leadership strategies. She created bravely.B to support female leaders navigating the complexities of menopause effectively and maintain their leadership edge.
There’s a lot of noise about AI right now, wild promises, cute image generators, and the kind of advice that feels more Silicon Valley than human-centred. But here’s the thing: it’s here to stay, and when used with intention, AI can be a genuinely powerful support tool, especially for those of us navigating perimenopause or menopause while leading teams, organisations, and movements.
This isn’t about gimmicks or shortcuts. It’s about building a functioning framework that supports our brains and bodies through real, lived challenges: cognitive fog, emotional overload, disrupted sleep, decision fatigue, and the pressure to hold it all together.
As leaders, we don’t just need help writing a better email. We need systems that work with our fluctuating capacity. Tools that protect our energy and unlock clarity. And we need them without judgment, without shame, and without having to over-explain ourselves.
That’s where AI comes in.
Why AI matters here
When your brain feels like it’s buffering, and your to-do list reads like a novel, AI can do more than fill in the gaps; it can offer structure, reflection, and scaffolding. But only if you use it your way.
This isn’t about copy-pasting generic prompts and hoping for the best. The real magic lies in adapting the tool to your specific needs and being willing to experiment. When done right, AI becomes more than a productivity boost. It becomes a private, always-on thought partner.
5 practical tips for using AI as a leadership support tool during menopause
1. Be specific about what you need support with
Instead of “help me be more productive,” be specific about your barriers and challenges. AI tools need data, and your symptoms are exactly that. I experience memory loss in stressful situations. I have a board/sales presentation on subject X that requires me to be able to answer a variety of questions on the topic. Can you help me prepare so I can remain focused? It’s longer, sure, but it contains more information and a distinct ask. The clearer you are, the more helpful AI becomes. Broad prompts give you broad results. Precision gives you power.
2. Use AI to create systems, not just outputs
Forget just writing one-off documents, ask AI to co-create systems that support your leadership. Think meeting prep templates, daily schedules that align with your energy patterns, or symptom-aware workflows. You’re designing supports that grow with you. Take some time to really think about what you need, where in your professional life you are experiencing challenges you didn’t have before perimenopause. Take a moment to think about what would really make a difference and see how AI can support you behind the scenes. It’s not about ‘increasing productivity’, it’s about creating a system that allows you to feel like yourself again.
3. Let AI catch the things your brain might miss
On days when you feel foggy, ask AI to summarise complex documents, prep questions for an important meeting, or turn rough notes into confident copy. It’s like having a second brain, without the mental load of managing one more person. You can use it as a foundation to create your own knowledge library that you can then integrate into your own notetaking system, ensuring you have all relevant information right there in your everyday files and can access it quickly. This is especially useful on days when you might have to switch from meeting to meeting with barely five minutes in between. Instead of needing ample prep time to feel focused and in control, you can have your notes, crib sheets, or essential talking points at the ready.
4. Experiment and adapt the prompts to fit your needs
The best results aren’t from “magic prompts,” they’re from your prompts. Play with tone, tweak the instructions, and don’t be afraid to try again. AI will get things wrong. Most people use it a bit like Google or as an email assistant and feel frustrated by the results. Remember, it’s not a search engine, and while yes, it can help draft emails, well, frankly, so can you. The more playful you are and the more you want to get out of AI to support your day-to-day professional life, the more comprehensive the output you’re getting. Try using it for some holistic support, helping you to reduce overwhelm when a ridiculously busy week looms or to remind you of your own strengths.
5. Build reflection into your practice
AI isn’t just for doing. It can also support being. Use it to reflect on your leadership values, check in with your wellbeing, or help you articulate your needs to others. I have had clients using AI between sessions to prompt them with further questions or explore concepts around their evolving leadership during perimenopause. If this sounds like AI can replace a coaching or therapeutic relationship, that’s not what it’s about. It’s about adding to the support structure around you. It’s about whole-person leadership, not just some outdated idea of productivity or replacing the humans in your life.
3 Transformative prompts to start using today
Here are three base prompts I regularly get menopausal leaders to explore in between sessions, ones that truly support both the practical and emotional reality of leading while navigating menopause:
“I feel overwhelmed and behind. Help me design a calm, achievable structure for my day based on low energy and high emotional demand.”
This one helps regulate your nervous system while still getting things done.
“Create a meeting preparation template that helps me compensate for brain fog and memory lapses, without feeling unprofessional.”
A game-changer when you need to show up with clarity, even if your mind is scrambled.
“I want to create a system that helps me track patterns in my energy, mood, and memory—so I can lead more sustainably.”
Because leadership is not just about coping, it’s about thriving with self-awareness.
You’re still the leader, AI just helps you feel like it again
Let’s be clear: AI doesn’t fix menopause. And it’s not a substitute for compassionate workplace cultures or good health care. But it is a tool that can support you in reclaiming clarity, emotional bandwidth, and confidence when things feel uncertain.
The most powerful use of AI isn’t to do more. It’s to help you do what matters with less friction, more ease, and a renewed sense of capability.
You’re not losing your edge. You’re leading through it with the smart support you deserve.
Read more from Bianka Kuhn-Thompson
Bianka Kuhn-Thompson, Dramatherapist and Systemic Leadership Consultant
Bianka is a distinguished Dramatherapist and Systemic Leadership Consultant dedicated to enhancing leadership resilience among female professionals. With a deep understanding of mental health, menopause, ADHD, and trauma-informed practice, Bianka empowers women to navigate professional challenges effectively. Through bravely.B, she offers unique, creative approaches to profoundly reduce stress, foster well-being, and develop protective strategies against professional challenges.
