The tension was high. I was the CEO of our digital agency, and we had just completed an acquisition of a small advertising agency, a fraction of our size. We were in the midst of our first combined executive meeting with our investors and key advisors. 

The 39-year-old CEO of our newly acquired agency — who thought he should have my job — was posturing. He was taking up a lot of space in his chair, leaning back with casual authority and dramatically gesturing his hands (you know the type 🙄). He was saying all the things that investors want to hear:

• “We need to do work that truly moves the needle for our clients.”
  
• “We need to aggressively add marquee clients to our roster.”
  
• “We’re focused on landing 8-figure accounts.”

Of course. Of course, we should do those things. As a matter of fact, my agency had already been successfully doing each of those things for decades(!). And this young buck had landed just one client that barely hit the 7-figure mark. 

Yet the investors were enthusiastically nodding, engaged. They wanted to hear more of what he had to say. Before that could happen, I excused myself to use the restroom. Minutes later, our lead investor stopped me in the hallway and said, “Kelly, you can’t just sit there. You have to have the courage to handle these difficult moments. Show him you’re the leader. Claim your space.” 

He was right. I couldn’t just sit there. But I had to. I was afraid to move. I had unexpectedly started my period–and not just a little bit—a lot. I could feel it, and I knew it was going to be horrific no matter what I chose to do next. 

(Oh, and I was sitting on a WHITE chair. 😰)

I anxiously considered: Do I wait out the meeting? Do I casually exit with my backside facing the door? Do I tell everyone what is happening?

I breathed deeply, looked directly into my investor’s eyes, who I respected and had a solid relationship with, and said, “I’m not afraid of his aggression. I was going to bleed onto my chair.” 

Yep. I said it. It had to be said. It stopped him in his tracks. ✋ And I am glad. 

He was second-guessing my ability to handle a challenging situation, but he was wrong. I was highly capable. I was simply not in control of what was happening to my body in that moment.

I know I am not alone. Turns out approximately 25% of women have irregular menstrual cycles and start their periods unexpectedly. And 61% of employees agree there’s a stigma associated with discussing women’s health issues at work, according to a 2024 survey conducted by The Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) and FemTechnology.

That’s a shame because many women routinely experience a host of health issues that may be invisible to others, especially to men:

• Excruciating pain during their periods, lasting several days 
• Anxiety about the possibility of leaks
• Anxiety about being caught without supplies and restrooms that aren’t stocked 
• Hiding tampons up a sleeve in a mad dash to the restroom
• Embarrassing leaks from breastfeeding
• Hormonal changes associated with perimenopause and menopause
• Hot flashes that require a change of clothes

This is real-life stuff. Nothing to ignore or be humiliated by. Fortunately, Gen Z talks about periods more openly than previous generations (another thing we can learn from them).

Here’s what will lessen the humiliation and taboo:

• Don’t suffer in silence. Normalize symptoms and be willing to talk more openly, even if it makes men uncomfortable.
  
• Advocate for free supplies. Ask your organization to provide the necessary supplies women need. “Tampons should be made available like toilet paper!” exclaimed my pioneering business partner, Nancy Kramer, who was inspired to found FreetheTampons.org.

• Raise awareness. Ask your organization to provide more educational content and wellness workshops that address health issues for everyone.

• Push for flexible policies. Advocate for the ability to adjust working hours to accommodate menstrual symptoms, including severe cramps, headaches, or fatigue, without taking a full sick day.

The truth is, women endure countless bodily issues while also hitting deadlines, building teams, running companies, and raising families. It’s time we lessen the burden by removing the stigma. 

I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes on the subject:

You’re equipt to bleed and lead,

Kelly Mooney