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Video Transcript
It’s menopause Monday and wool orca day.Here’s the oconor.
What’s going on with the whales and why should workplaces care?
When researchers from the universities of York and exit analyzed 750 hours of video footage of these beautiful mammals over nine summers in the coastal waters of British Columbia, this is what theyfound.
Firstly, that females were more likely to lead the group when searching for food than their male counterparts.
Secondly, post-menopausal females were more likely to lead than their younger fertile females.
And thirdly, when times got tough, when their food resources were low, the pod relied even more heavily on the leadership of the post-menopausal female.
Now, whales, I’d have to be one of the most successful and intelligent species on the planet. So, there has to be one very clear evolutionary advantage to that kind of social structure. And that advantage is all to do with superio rleadership.
In whale world, the post-menopausal female is recognized as a critical source of ecological knowledge that’s accumulated over a lifetime. And it’s the kind of knowledge that now help ensures the survival of the pod.
You can see the entire keynote on theTED X channel on YouTube.
Just search for Theo Connor or via the direct link in the post.
In this week’s Menopause Monday chat, we take inspiration from the animal world—specifically orcas—to highlight the value of post-menopausal leadership. Research from the Universities of York and Exeter, based on 750 hours of whale footage, found that female orcas often lead their pods in the search for food, with post-menopausal females taking the lead most often—especially when resources are scarce. This shows the evolutionary advantage of drawing on the wisdom and ecological knowledge of older females to ensure the group’s survival. Just as in whale pods, workplaces can benefit from recognizing and valuing the leadership, experience, and insight that post-menopausal women bring.
You can explore this further in Thea O’Connor’s full TEDx talk, available on YouTube.
Checkout Menopause Monday on Youtube!
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Introducing, Thea O'Connor
Thea is a workplace wellbeing advisor, TEDx speaker, and national leader on menopause at work. She draws on her own qualitative research with working women, 30 years’ experience in health promotion, and a deep understanding of workplace culture to design practical, inclusive support. Known for tackling taboo topics with ease and insight, Thea helps organisations create healthier, more supportive environments—particularly for people navigating menopause.