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WHAT’S ON DECK

• Tell Me More: Past your prime

• FQ Leaders Spotlight: Oriana Kraft, Founder and CEO, FemTechnology

• Dear FQ: I’m managing former peers. How do I earn respect?

• Poll the Pack: Inbox zero

TELL ME MORE

The Invisible Woman

H.G. Wells’ 1897 science fiction novel, The Invisible Man, imagined invisibility as a scientific breakthrough. In it, a male scientist makes himself invisible and descends into madness after not being able to reverse the process. For many women, it’s something far less fictional.

The term “Invisible Woman Syndrome,” coined by Helen Walmsley-Johnson in 2015, describes the experience of being overlooked as a woman ages, especially after 50. And it’s not anecdotal. Nearly 70% of women over 50 report feeling invisible, not because they’ve stepped back from their lives or careers, but because the world has quietly decided they matter less. This is what happens when ageism and sexism intersect.

For much of women’s lives, there is an unspoken expectation tied to youth, beauty, fertility, and desirability. Visibility, in many ways, is earned by fitting into those parameters. But as women age, wrinkles, grey hair, and menopause, all the natural markers of time, her “worth” to society expires. 

According to a UK study, 62% of women believe societal pressure to meet unrealistic beauty standards contributes to women feeling invisible. That pressure doesn’t just affect how women feel about themselves. It influences how they show up, and how they’re treated. Another study found that 40% of women feel the need to undergo cosmetic procedures to appear more youthful and attractive, out of a desire to maintain relevance in a culture that equates appearance with value. As psychologist Dr. Vivian Diller notes, “Good looks continue to be associated with respect, legitimacy, and power in their relationships.”

That association carries into the workplace. The National Bureau of Economic Research found that physical appearance impacts hiring and advancement, and that bias becomes more pronounced as women age. Despite bringing decades of experience, older women are frequently overlooked, their ideas dismissed, and their ability to “keep up” questioned. And yet, these are the very employees who offer what many organizations need most: emotional intelligence, resilience, collaboration, and perspective.

While workplaces have made strides in addressing certain aspects of inclusion, age remains one of the least discussed and least supported dimensions of diversity. Globally, 90% of companies do not address ageism in their diversity practices. And when it comes to a defining life stage like menopause, the gap becomes even more visible. An estimated 80% of women will experience menopause during their working years, yet support is minimal. The result is a culture of silence around a universal experience, often at a critical point in their careers.

Layered on top of this are the realities of midlife: children leaving home, aging parents, shifts in identity, and sometimes divorce or loss. It’s a period of significant transition, yet one that is rarely acknowledged with the same empathy or infrastructure as other life stages.

But there’s been a shift. Women are continuing to lead, create, and shape culture well beyond the age society deemed their “prime.” For the first time, Anna Wintour appeared on the cover of Vogue alongside Meryl Streep, photographed by Annie Leibovitz, three women in their 70s still defining their industries. 

Nicole Kidman, 56-years-old, is working more than ever. In 2017, she promised to work with a female director every 18 months. We’ll do the math for you, she overdelivered, working with 27. 

Viola Davis, 60-years-old, became the face of L’Oreal and shows no signs of slowing down, continuing to lead across film, television, and production.

Pamela Anderson, 58-years-old, has made headlines for not wearing makeup and choosing to show up fully as herself. She represents something increasingly rare: authenticity in a world that’s very good at faking it. 

At an age when society often suggests women should be slowing down or stepping back, they are doing the opposite. Let these legends be your reminder that the idea of your “prime” is outdated. 

🚨 If you watch one thing today, make it this, because this brilliantly funny video, written and directed by Batt Maillie, taps into an uncomfortable truth about the Invisible Woman.

The biggest challenge in the age of AI agents isn't the technology. It's defining what good looks like and teaching it to a system. As AI becomes more capable, the companies that pull ahead will be the ones that can articulate their judgment, not just automate workflows. Read more.

FQ LEADERS SPOTLIGHT

Troublemakers who don’t fit the mold, and don’t try to

Oriana Kraft is determined to address the biases and gaps in research that have long defined women’s health. She is the Founder and CEO of FemTechnology, helping women take control of their health using AI-driven personalization to guide them through diagnostic and care options for conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, and menopause. She also hosts the FemTechnology Summit, bringing together innovators, doctors, and researchers with the mission to close the gender gap in women’s healthcare.

What’s the worst career advice you’ve gotten?

“Pick one thing and stick to it.” I deviated from a traditional career path. I started out studying medicine, which tends to be very traditional: you choose a specialty and then that’s it. Today, I have a start-up. I realized that you don’t have to follow a narrow path.

For example, in medical school, I learned about conditions like endometriosis and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, which impacts 10% of women. Queen Victoria had endometriosis and since then, the treatment of the disease hasn’t progressed at all. That was shocking to me, and nobody was doing anything about it. We obviously need more research in women's health, but there's also a lot we do know that isn’t being applied to women. So the basis for my start-up was: how can we translate the knowledge we have to women’s care?

What’s the best piece of non-obvious career advice you’ve gotten?

“It doesn't have to be perfect.” I grew up with the feeling that I needed to focus on perfection over speed. I’ve learned that it’s about finding the balance between the two.

What was a heartbeat moment for you in your career?

I was attending Davos, and in a spontaneous moment, I thought, “I should hold a summit.” It stemmed from a genuine curiosity of wanting to know more. I created the FemTechnology Summit, and brought together researchers, clinicians, and fem-tech startups for a 360-degree perspective on innovation in women's health. Ever since then, I’ve followed my curiosity. It's never steered me wrong.

Who is one person you’d love to give flowers to from your career that influenced your journey? What advice or lesson did you learn from them?

I’d give flowers to my mom, Caitlin Kraft-Buchman. She showed me that anything is possible. She’s reinvented herself multiple times. She’s been a Hollywood agent, worked for TED, and now runs her own Non-Governmental Organization around inclusive algorithms and equitable AI. Her ability to reinvent herself has always inspired me. 

I’d also love to honor my middle school science teacher, Nicole Foote. She encouraged me to continue on a STEM career path. She was so supportive and always made the subject fun. We don't give enough credit to teachers. They can really shape our perspective and our future.

Where have you caused some good trouble in your career?

I think everywhere I show up talking about women's health is causing good trouble. It began when I called out my university, as they had a program that was supposed to be about designing the future of medicine, but women's health was nowhere in the program or on the agenda. Since then, they’ve worked to rectify that.

Want to nominate a “Troublemaker” you admire? You can do so here.

DEAR FQ

Your burning career questions answered

Bailey Kircher of The Female Quotient weighs in:

First of all, congratulations! That’s a big step and a reflection of the work you’ve put in. You’re right, it can be an uncomfortable transition from colleague to boss. Yesterday you were peers, and today you’re setting the direction for the team.

The biggest mistake people make in this type of situation is to try and “act like the boss.” It’s worth acknowledging this shift in dynamics with your team. It can be something as simple as, “Hey, I know this is a change, and I’m excited to support all of us doing great work.”

From there, it’s all about how you show up. Make sure to be fair, not favor-based, and follow through on what you say. Most importantly, don’t avoid hard conversations just because you were once peers who vented about work stuff together. The truth is, you’re not going to be everyone’s work bestie anymore. You can still be warm, supportive, and human, of course, but your new role requires you to prioritize the group as a whole and your team’s responsibilities. 

Don’t forget that you were chosen for this role for a reason! Focus on beinclear, and thoughtful. Respect will follow your actions.

P.S. Got a burning career question? Serve it up here to Dear FQ to score advice from a powerhouse leader in our network.

POLL THE PACK

How people *really* manage their inbox

Managing the dreaded, stress-inducing inbox can be a daunting task, particularly if you’ve let it grow. You haven’t read how many emails?! 

In one study, 89% of employees said a task like inbox management is one of the worst parts of their day. 38% said email fatigue could push them to leave their jobs. Before you start putting your office supplies in a cardboard box or panic-delete everything, know that inbox management is not one-size-fits-all. Your inbox is basically a reflection of how you think. Organize it in a way that works for you.

As email is often people’s first stop of the day, the last thing you want is chaos. It can lead to forgotten tasks, missed communication, and burnout. If you are intentional and focused in your management of it, it can reduce stress, increase productivity, and make you (quite literally) the master of your domain.

To truly seeing ourselves at every stage and every age.

Xo,

The FQ

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