Her Health, Her Life: creating healthier futures for women

Women’s health is not a niche. It is a systemic opportunity that spans research, product design, service delivery and culture. The Women’s Health Collective at WPP was created in 2023 to recognise the specific needs of women and ensure they are reflected realistically in the work we do with clients. The opportunity now is to move from awareness to action – educating, empowering and activating women at every life stage.

Earlier this year, Health@WPP convened a panel on women’s health, moderated by Galina Espinoza, Editor-in-Chief at Flow Space, with contributions from Dr Jen Ashton (ObGyn/Obesity Medicine Specialist, journalist and founder of Ajenda), Kristen Dahlgren (Founder & CEO, Cancer Vaccine Coalition), Kayla Nixon (Public Health Communicator, Uterine Care Collaborative) and Tom Conti (CEO, SweetScience and representative of the Men’s Health Network). Their discussion surfaced pragmatic ways brands can help accelerate progress.

Close the gap: women’s evolving health needs

There is fresh momentum around menopause, metabolic health and other historically overlooked areas, helped by new treatments and regulatory attention. Since the 1993 NIH inclusion policy, representation in research has improved – yet gaps persist across conditions, life stages and communities. Progress requires a more integrated view of women’s health that considers hormones, metabolism, mental health, socio‑economic context and the commercial realities shaping access and adherence.

What brands can do

• Expand representation across insight, research and creative: include diverse age, ethnicity, socio economic status and life experiences.
• Partner with patient and community organisations to surface overlooked symptoms, barriers and cultural nuances.
• Build tailored education and care pathways that reflect women’s real contexts, not just clinical moments.

The power of storytelling

Stigma and misinformation still deter many women from seeking timely care. Stories cut through: helping women recognise symptoms, ask better questions and feel less alone. Personal journeys, like those shared by Kristen Dahlgren and Kayla Nixon, can mobilise research, galvanise communities and drive earlier engagement with care. Storytelling is most effective when it is culturally relevant and paired with practical support, such as patient navigation and trusted peer networks.

What brands can do

• Centre lived experience: co-create content with patients and caregivers, not just for them.
• Pair narrative with utility: link stories to checklists, decision aids and routes to care.
• Invest in trusted messengers – community leaders, navigators and creators who reach underserved audiences.

Menopause: a strategic priority

Menopause is not only a medical topic; it is a strategic business and societal priority. Treating midlife women holistically, across mental health, cardiovascular risk, bone health, workplace wellbeing and financial security, unlocks productivity, retention and leadership at scale. Open dialogue, rigorous research and solutions designed for different cultures and careers can turn a period of attrition into a phase of growth.

What brands can do

• Modernise the narrative: move beyond symptoms to the full impact on work, relationships and long-term health.
• Design for real life: offer modular support spanning clinical care, digital tools, workplace policy and community.
• Measure what matters: track outcomes that women value, confidence, function, continuity at work, not only clinical endpoints.

The role of men

Women’s health affects everyone. Men, partners, fathers, colleagues, leaders, can be powerful allies when informed and engaged. Education fosters empathy reduces stigma and improves outcomes for families and workplaces.

What brands can do

• Create tailored resources for men: simple explainers, conversation guides and signals of allyship.
• Bring men into campaigns and programmes as supporters, not saviours.
• Equip managers with training to support team members navigating fertility, pregnancy loss, menopause and caregiving.

From awareness to impact

The path forward blends stories, science, investment and allyship. When patients are partners in innovation, shaping research, design and delivery, solutions become more effective, personalised and equitable. Brands have a unique role in scaling this change: convening stakeholders, funding insight and creating experiences that meet women where they are.