In this episode of Unstoppable Women, Julie Tague speaks with Linda Johnstone, Head of Investment Proposition in global financial services, about leadership, women’s health and learning to work with the body rather than against it.
Linda shares her personal journey of building a demanding international career in a traditionally male-dominated industry while privately managing severe menstrual health challenges. After years of painful symptoms, medical dismissal and trying to push through, Linda was eventually diagnosed with endometriosis, adenomyosis and polycystic ovaries – conditions that affect millions of women worldwide.
What followed was a powerful shift in how she approached her life and work.
Through discovering menstrual cycle awareness and the concept of the four “seasons” of the female cycle, Linda began to understand how energy, focus, creativity and decision-making change throughout the month. Instead of forcing herself to operate in a constant state of productivity, she learned how to align her work, leadership and wellbeing with her natural rhythms.
Linda now describes this insight with a powerful reframe:
“I’m cyclical, not inconsistent.”
In this honest and thoughtful conversation, Linda and Julie explore:
• The reality of managing chronic women’s health conditions while working in high-pressure professional environments
• Why women’s health is still difficult to talk about in the workplace
• How menstrual cycle awareness can support better leadership, productivity and self-trust
• The “four seasons” framework and how it can help women understand their energy and performance
• Why language and reframing can transform the way women see themselves at work
Linda also shares how she is now helping to break the silence around women’s health by speaking openly about endometriosis and creating support networks for other women in her organisation.
This episode is a powerful conversation about self-awareness, leadership and redefining what it means to perform at work as a woman.