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Kingbridge Women's Leadership Lab
presents
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The Midlife Power Shift
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A Science-Backed Wellness Retreat to Fast-Track Women’s Leadership Growth
In partnership with McMaster University and the Mary Heersink School of Global Health and Social Medicine
About the Leadership Lab
The Kingbridge Women’s Leadership Lab is an initiative dedicated to advancing women’s leadership by integrating science, wellness, and wisdom at the highest levels.
Women leaders at all stages face constant struggles, including those linked to unaddressed midlife wellness challenges and life transitions. A major unrecognized risk to senior leadership in organizations across Canada, the social and biological burden that female talent bears threatens organizational effectiveness and leadership continuity.
Kingbridge’s future-focused leadership initiative aims to equip women with the insights and tools to make their organizations more empathetic, inclusive and high-performing.
About the Leadership Lab
The Kingbridge Women’s Leadership Lab is an initiative dedicated to advancing women’s leadership by integrating science, wellness, and wisdom at the highest levels.
Women leaders at all stages face constant struggles, including those linked to unaddressed midlife wellness challenges and life transitions. A major unrecognized risk to senior leadership in organizations across Canada, the social and biological burden that female talent bears threatens organizational effectiveness and leadership continuity.
Kingbridge’s future-focused leadership initiative aims to equip women with the insights and tools to make their organizations more empathetic, inclusive and high-performing.
The Midlife Power Shift
This symposium is a partnership with McMaster University and the Mary Heersink School of Global Health & Social Medicine— to tackle the widespread issues affecting women leaders in midlife/mid-career.
This two-day retreat-style symposium is the first of a series of evidence-based initiatives that seeks to address female leadership barriers with actionable tools, while connecting women leaders across industries for meaningful peer learning.
With the support of a powerful peer network, Symposium members will benefit from programming focused on wellness and wisdom, backed by cutting-edge research, wellness techniques and technologies. Women will leave feeling replenished, reconnected with their core purpose, and able to mobilize their learnings from this retreat in their workplaces.
The Time to Invest in Yourself
Women who attend the symposium are seasoned leaders with impressive experience and impact. What we offer is a safe space where these leaders can replenish and take their journey to the next level. This is achieved by gaining access to a supportive community and to the latest research and insights about the new challenges that come with midlife, including menopause, increased caregiving responsibilities, renewed sense of purpose and impact, or different glass ceilings; all of which bring about invisible pressures that traditional leadership programs rarely account for.
This is the perfect time to re-invest in yourself. Join us for a one-of-a-kind retreat that is designed specifically for senior-level women leaders who are charting their pathways for a successful and fulfilling future.
What You’ll Experience:
• Immersive science-backed sessions that translate the research into wellness practices that are tailored to the needs of midlife women leaders
• A deeper connection to your health, impact and influence
• Restorative leadership development that energizes you and prevents burnout
• A connected community of women leaders who are walking on the same path as you
• A casual and relaxed environment which allows for relaxed deeper conversations and connection with women
What You'll Gain Access To
• Expert-led conversations on health and leadership from top Canadian medical and wellness professionals
• Leading rejuvenation technologies including BrainTap and vibroacoustic therapy
• Personalized wellness insights
• Interactive activities including hydrotherapy circuit
The Midlife Power Shift
This two-day retreat-style symposium is the first of a series of evidence-based initiatives that seeks to address female leadership barriers with actionable tools, while connecting women leaders across industries for meaningful peer learning. This symposium is a partnership with McMaster University and the Mary Heersink School of Global Health & Social Medicine— to tackle the widespread issues affecting women leaders in midlife/mid-career.
With the support of a powerful peer network, Symposium members will benefit from programming focused on wellness and wisdom, backed by cutting-edge research, wellness techniques and technologies.Women will leave feeling replenished, reconnected with their core purpose, and able to mobilize their learnings from this retreat in their workplaces.
The Time to Invest in Yourself
Women who attend the symposium are seasoned leaders with impressive experience and impact. What we offer is a safe space where these leaders can replenish and take their journey to the next level. This is achieved by gaining access to a supportive community and to the latest research and insights about the new challenges that come with midlife, including menopause, increased caregiving responsibilities, renewed sense of purpose and impact, or different glass ceilings; all of which bring about invisible pressures that traditional leadership programs rarely account for.
This is the perfect time to re-invest in yourself. Join us for a one-of-a-kind retreat that is designed specifically for senior-level women leaders who are charting their pathways for a successful and fulfilling future.
What You’ll Experience:
• Immersive science-backed sessions that translate the research into wellness practices that are tailored to the needs of midlife women leaders.
• A deeper connection to your health, impact and influence
• Restorative leadership development that energizes you and prevents burnout
• A connected community of women leaders who are walking on the same path as you
• A casual and relaxed environment which allows for relaxed deeper conversations and connection with women
What You'll Gain Access To
• Expert-led conversations on health and leadership from top Canadian medical and wellness professionals.
• Leading rejuvenation technologies including BrainTap and vibroacoustic therapy
• Personalized wellness insights
• Interactive activities including hydrotherapy circuit
Why Focus on Women's Talent in Midlife?
In Canada alone, menopause-related turnover is estimated to cost 3.5 billion annually in lost productivity and income, according to the Menopause Foundation of Canada. Alarmingly, nearly one in two women report feeling too embarrassed to seek help at work. Yet, research from Sunlife Financial states that 40 per cent of women say that health issues, including menopause, have resulted in career-limiting decisions.
We argue that organizational cultures need to account for, and better support, women’s experiences of leadership during midlife changes in order to prevent effectively the loss of female talent.
“Midlife” or “mid-career” are terms used to refer to the stages when one reaches their peak leadership potential. Significant changes (physiological, mental and social) occur during that stage of life, but if these are unaddressed or repressed, they can lead many to silently exit the workforce (with dramatic consequences for the individual and their networks). Whether due to burnout, health challenges, or a lack of visible paths upwards, it is imperative to bridge the lived experiences of women in midlife with appropriate organizational support. Otherwise, senior-level women will continue to walk away from their workplaces just as they are reaching their peak leadership potential.
Midlife needs not be an ending. Instead, it is best viewed as a power shift, a time to recalibrate. And we are here to help individuals and organizations retain their most valuable and experienced assets –high-potential leaders– when they are needed most.
Join a supportive cohort of women executives across diverse industries, who come together to learn, share, and elevate each other. Consider this to be your new circle of wisdom and innovation for long-term impact, both personal and professional.
Why Focus on Women's Talent in Midlife?
In Canada alone, menopause-related turnover is estimated to cost 3.5 billion annually in lost productivity and income, according to the Menopause Foundation of Canada. Alarmingly, nearly one in two women report feeling too embarrassed to seek help at work. Yet, research from Sunlife Financial states that 40 per cent of women say that health issues, including menopause, have resulted in career-limiting decisions.
We argue that organizational cultures need to account for, and better support, women’s experiences of leadership during midlife changes in order to prevent effectively the loss of female talent.
“Midlife” or “mid-career” are terms used to refer to the stages when one reaches their peak leadership potential. Significant changes (physiological, mental and social) occur during that stage of life, but if these are unaddressed or repressed, they can lead many to silently exit the workforce (with dramatic consequences for the individual and their networks). Whether due to burnout, health challenges, or a lack of visible paths upwards, it is imperative to bridge the lived experiences of women in midlife with appropriate organizational support. Otherwise, senior-level women will continue to walk away from their workplaces just as they are reaching their peak leadership potential.
Midlife needs not be an ending. Instead, it is best viewed as a power shift, a time to recalibrate. And we are here to help individuals and organizations retain their most valuable and experienced assets –high-potential leaders– when they are needed most.
Join a supportive cohort of women executives across diverse industries, who come together to learn, share, and elevate each other. Consider this to be your new circle of wisdom and innovation for long-term impact, both personal and professional.
We argue that organizational cultures need to account for, and better support, women’s experiences of leadership during midlife changes in order to prevent effectively the loss of female talent.
“Midlife” or “mid-career” are terms used to refer to the stages when one reaches their peak leadership potential. Significant changes (physiological, mental and social) occur during that stage of life, but if these are unaddressed or repressed, they can lead many to silently exit the workforce (with dramatic consequences for the individual and their networks). Whether due to burnout, health challenges, or a lack of visible paths upwards, it is imperative to bridge the lived experiences of women in midlife with appropriate organizational support. Otherwise, senior-level women will continue to walk away from their workplaces just as they are reaching their peak leadership potential.
Midlife needs not be an ending. Instead, it is best viewed as a power shift, a time to recalibrate. And we are here to help individuals and organizations retain their most valuable and experienced assets –high-potential leaders– when they are needed most.
Join a supportive cohort of women executives across diverse industries, who come together to learn, share, and elevate each other. Consider this to be your new circle of wisdom and innovation for long-term impact, both personal and professional.
Details
May 1 – 2, 2026
Women’s 2-Day Wellness Retreat
$699
(Price subject to 13% HST)
Event Agenda
Speakers
Please click to view speaker bios
Dr. Susan Tighe
PhD, PEng, FCAE, FCSCE, FEIC, C.Dir.
Taking A Jump, Journey to President
Dr. Menaka Pai
MSc, MD, FRCPC
Keeping Your Iron Up
Dr. Smita Halder
MBChB, MRCP, MRes, PhD
Awakening Inner Power, Aligning Values, And Rising Into A New Self
Dr. Alexandra Papaiannou
BScN, MD, MSc, FRCP(C), FACP, FCGS
Bone Health & Menopause
Dr. Russell De Souza
ScD, RD
Nutrition During Menopause
Dr. Allison Shea
MD, PhD, FRCSC, MSCP
Menopause 101
Details
September 26 – 27, 2025
Women’s 2-Day Wellness Retreat
$699
(Price subject to 13% HST)
Learn from the latest research
Our program is grounded in partnership with leading institutions such as McMaster University and the Mary Heersink School of Global Health and Social Medicine. Walk away with actionable insights rooted in leading health sciences, leadership psychology and workplace strategy.
Grow your influence, not just your skill set
Explore more than leadership tactics. This is a deep dive into how to sustain your leadership longevity by prioritizing your health and wellbeing, balancing evolving personal and professional identities, and influencing workplace cultures that authentically support women
Ready To Step Into The Shift?
Your voice and your presence matters.
Invest in your power and rise together with a collective support of women who are ready to lead with you.
Interested In Partnering With Us ?
Write to us today to explore sponsorship opportunities.
Speakers
Please click to view speaker bios
Dr. Susan Tighe
PhD, PEng, FCAE, FCSCE, FEIC, C.Dir.
Dr. Menaka Pai
MSc, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Smita Halder
MBChB, MRCP, MRes, PhD
Dr. Alexandra Papaiannou
BScN, MD, MSc, FRCP(C), FACP, FCGS
Dr. Russell De Souza
ScD, RD
Dr. Allison Shea
MD, PhD, FRCSC, MSCP
Details
The Kingbridge Centre
12750 Jane St, King City, ON L7B 1A3
May 1 – 2, 2026
Women’s 2-Day Wellness Retreat
$699
(Price subject to 13% HST)
Ready To Step Into The Shift?
Your voice and your presence matters.
Invest in your power and rise together with a collective support of women who are ready to lead with you.
Interested In Partnering With Us ?
Write to us today to explore sponsorship opportunities.
