How well are women really doing in the workplace today?
In this powerful episode of the mentl space, host Scott Armstrong sits down with Maya Rafii, Managing Director and Purpose, Culture & Inclusion Leader at Deloitte Middle East, to explore the findings of the new Women @ Work 2025: A Global Outlook - Deloitte’s fifth annual deep dive into the lived experiences of 7,500 women across 15 countries.
Together, they unpack a picture that is both hopeful and deeply concerning:
🔹 51% of women say their mental health is good, yet
🔹 43% say they’re very concerned about it, and
🔹 Almost 90% believe their manager would think negatively if they disclosed a mental-health challenge.
We also dig into the “always-on” culture where 29% feel unable to switch off, and those regularly working beyond contracted hours report drastically poorer well-being - only 15% rate their mental health as good, compared to 58% among those who can disconnect.
Maya shares her 20-year journey building Deloitte’s inclusion culture, the hard truths about psychological safety, and what leaders must do next — not as a box-ticking exercise, but as a business imperative.
We also explore:
✨ The mental load and why it’s silently draining women’s productivity
✨ The confidence-shaking impact of menopause and menstrual health at work
✨ Why flexible work boosts mothers’ mental wellbeing, productivity, and retention
✨ Why only 5% of women see themselves staying with their employer long-term
This conversation is essential listening for leaders, HR professionals, DEI champions - and anyone who believes a better workplace is possible.
Chapter List:
00:00 Welcome & Why This Conversation Matters
02:30 What the Women @ Work 2025 Report Reveals
05:00 Maya’s Journey & Deloitte’s Inclusion Evolution
07:00 A Mixed Picture: Progress vs Rising Pressure
09:00 The “Always On” Culture & Mental Load
11:00 The Hidden Cost of Stress & Overwork
13:00 Psychological Safety: The 90% Challenge
15:00 What Leaders Must Do Differently
17:00 Building a Wellbeing-First Culture
19:00 Women’s Health Challenges at Work
21:30 The Care Burden & Its Economic Impact
24:00 Flexibility as a Catalyst for Retention
26:30 Neurodiversity & Disclosure in the Workplace
29:00 The Retention Crisis: Only 5% Plan to Stay Long-Term
31:00 Microaggressions & Non-Inclusive Behaviours
34:00 Closing Insights & Call to Action