Women in business over 40: The Inner Work for Success
Do you watch other women in business over 40 building brilliant businesses, leading brilliant teams, organisations while you're secretly running on empty, wondering where the hell you went in the middle of it all? You're not alone. Wondering how they do it all, achieve it all while you still feel like you’re still winging it.
You're not broken, you’re not winging it - you’re living it.
Here's the thing nobody talks about: we're the generation that just gets on with it. We hold up the sky. We remember the birthdays. We fix all the things. And we do it all while wearing that "I'm absolutely bloody fine" mask.
Except we're not fine. Not really.
The Hidden Crisis: female business leaders burnout and mental health statistics
The numbers don't lie and they're not pretty. Not that anyone would be surprised. Deloitte's Women at Work survey showed that 53% of women report feeling more stressed this year than last. Most say their mental health is declining. Meanwhile, 75% of unpaid care work is still done by women.
But here's what's fascinating: women over 40 are now the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs, of women in business. We're starting businesses at record rates. We're leading teams. We're creating impact.
And we're also the most underfunded and overlooked.
Sound familiar? Not really a massive surprise.
We're living in what I call "low-level burnout" - still showing up, still achieving, still having people turn around and say "Blimey O’Riley, how are you doing all those things? You're amazing!" All the while quietly feeling just that little bit exhausted and detached from the spark we once had.
This isn't about wanting less. It's about placing our energy where it counts.
Breaking the "I'm Fine" mask: Recognizing invisible weight in women leadership development
Let's call ourselves out on this one.
When was the last time you actually did any work on you? I'm not talking about the 70 billion loads of washing or where the socks have gone. I'm talking about when you last focused on yourself for even 10 minutes.
We become the central cog in everything - families, businesses, teams. Everyone relies on us. But if you go down, the whole ship goes down with you. That ship isn't just your business. It's your family. It's your health. It's your peace.
The emotional labour management burden on female leaders is real. We're managing the mental load, dealing with all the invisible stuff, showing up like everything's fine while maybe wondering where we went in the middle of it all.
That sense of detachment? That feeling like you're almost living somebody else's life? That's what we need to stop doing.
The duty we owe ourselves
It's time to drop the mask. Show your vulnerability. Acknowledge what's really going on. Because here's what the fabulous Alison Cork MBE said on my podcast that was a real mic drop moment: "It's our duty to ourselves." You can listen to the episode here : The Second Act - Full Power with no apologies: Fit & Fabulous with Alison Cork MBE
It's on us.
And that doesn't need to be another burden - it can be the thing that changes everything.
Energy management for entrepreneurs: The 50-30-20 framework for working women
Forget time management. Complete waste of energy. We only have so much time in a day - we can't squeeze more things in. If anything, we need to be taking things out.
The golden nugget is energy management for women in business. The more we work with our energy systems, the easier everything else becomes.
Here's my take on the 50-30-20 rule for self-care for working women:
50% on your needs: The things that pay the mortgage, move your business forward, support your team. Your priorities that matter.
30% on what you want: What gives you joy? What lights you up? For me, it's recording my podcast. It’s working with the brilliant women in FoundHer Fire. Build this into your day.
20% on quality recovery: How are you recharging your battery? Your energy systems? This isn't savings - it's investment in your ability to go again tomorrow.
Your energy depletes like a phone battery. If you're not plugging in somewhere to recharge, reset and reframe, you'll struggle with that low-level burnout forever.
From hustle to intention
This is about shifting from the constant hustle (I blinking hate that word) to intentional energy placement. From depletion to impact and intention.
Because running on empty isn't a strategy. It's a fast track to exactly nowhere.
Building your Inner Edge: practical steps for Midlife Career Transformation
The fundamental question that changes everything: What are you seeking to create?
Ask yourself this daily. Weekly. When you're goal setting. Spend five minutes with a cuppa, on a walk, with a glass of wine and just think: What does contentment look like for you?
This inner work - I call it the inner edge - is the work that changes everything. It's your personal advantage. Your clarity. Your confidence. Your energy.
We don't need to be told to dream bigger. We need to be supported to feel stronger. And that scaffolding has to come from ourselves first.
The shift to edge-based leadership
The shift from exhaustion-based leadership to edge-based leadership starts inside. It's about developing emotional endurance. Creating non-negotiable time for inner work. Moving from masking to authentic vulnerability.
Because here's the truth: confidence isn't gifted. It's grafted. It's built every time you do the thing you once talked yourself out of.
It's a muscle you develop every single time you take action and keep the receipts.
From survival to thriving: Supporting women's professional growth in business
Real success isn't about strategy - it's about self. It's about how we grow on all fronts. Personal development and professional progress working together.
This is why I created FoundHer Fire Community - a space for experienced women in business who know that moving forward means doing the inner work first. It's invitation-only because this isn't about surface-level coaching or self-help fluff.
It's about creating supportive communities where women's professional growth happens alongside personal transformation. Where we lead with our edge, not our exhaustion.
Who This Is For
The women joining us are founders, business leaders, MDs, CEOs who've grafted, built, led, and held it all up. They're still here, still hungry, and ready to crack on but this time, on purpose.
We're done pretending we're fine when we're not. Done with low-level burnout as a badge of honour. Done waiting for someone else to come and sort everything out for us.
Because the only time to start building that inner scaffolding is right now. This very second.
The real work starts with you
Abso-blinkin-lutely, surround yourself with the women who'll remind you you've got this - they are key in the toolbox of cracking on.
And then give yourself a shake, tell yourself you can do this. And crack on.
Because no matter how many people tell you you've got this…it won't sink in until you believe it.
That's where the real fire starts.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
How do I know if I'm experiencing female business leaders burnout?
Look for signs like feeling detached from work you once loved, constantly saying "I'm fine" when you're not, living in low-level exhaustion while still performing, or feeling like you're going through the motions. If you're showing up but the spark has dimmed, it's time to address it.
What's the difference between time management and energy management for entrepreneurs?
Time management tries to squeeze more into fixed hours - impossible and exhausting. Energy management maps where you invest your energy for maximum impact. It's about working with your natural energy systems rather than against them.
How can I implement the 50-30-20 framework in my daily routine?
Start by mapping your current energy spend. Then allocate 50% to needs and business priorities, 30% to activities that bring joy and fulfillment, and 20% to quality recovery time. Adjust as needed, but make all three non-negotiable.
What does work-life balance for women over 40 actually look like?
It's less about perfect balance and more about intentional energy placement. Focus on what you're seeking to create, set boundaries around your energy investment, and remember that saying no to some things means saying yes to what matters most.
How do I start doing inner work when I barely have time for everything else?
Start with just 10 minutes. Ask yourself "What am I seeking to create?" Make it non-negotiable time with yourself - even if it's with a cuppa or during a walk. The inner work becomes the foundation that makes everything else easier.
