Meet the Founder: The Fuchsia Tent’s Mission to Support Menopause with Kacy Fleming
Meet the founder behind The Fuchsia Tent; Kacy Fleming. After spending over 20 years in biopharma, she found herself searching for answers when perimenopause hit—only to realize how limited the resources were. That frustration led her to create a space where women can find real support, expert guidance, and community.
1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am an award-winning workplace well-being strategist and women's health advocate. I spent over twenty years in biopharmaceuticals learning the importance of health education and community support as well as the criticality of creating access to medications. Despite this knowledge, when perimenopause symptoms hit, I fell victim to Google Search, and knew there had to be a better way to learn about the menopausal transition. That is why I created The Fuchsia Tent.
In addition to being the CEO and founder of The Fuchsia Tent, I run a well-being consultancy where I work alongside organizations to ensure sustainable business growth along with market leadership in talent retention, and attraction. I have built and executed well-being strategies and solutions from the ground up, based on a multidisciplinary approach of storytelling, deep listening, and evidence-based organizational design practices.
I am a published author, a TEDx speaker, and a LinkedIn Top Voice for public speaking. I do frequent keynotes for global employers, guest lecture at UMass Amherst, and have appeared on numerous global podcasts talking about workplace well-being and menopause. I have authored articles on hot topics in the workplace ranging from menopause and mid-career transitions to flexible work, compassionate leadership, and the keys to employee engagement. My work has been featured by Thrive Global, HR Grapevine, Wellbeing Designers, Wellbeing at Work, etc…
I live in Massachusetts with my partner, Mark and my two chihuahuas, Otto and Finn.
2. Tell us about the Fuchsia Tent - what it is, why you created it, what it does?
The Fuchsia Tent is designed to be a complete menopause ecosystem. We have solutions tailored to meet the needs of individuals and organizations alike.
Key features include:
The Fuchsia List-The Fuchsia List evaluates FDA approved medications, telehealth services, nutritional supplements, devices, and consumer products, empowering women to attain the individualized care they deserve.
The Fuchsia Tent Community-is a private membership group of vibrant professional midlife women. Whether you are seeking expert advice, group coaching, friendship, or networking, this community has it ALL.
Fuchsia Coaching-Combining techniques derived from Organizational Psychology and Health Coaching to help reduce stress and confusion related to the menopausal transition by providing evidence-based information and support.
Fuchsia@WORK:Creating a measured, compassionate approach to supporting midlife women to empower business sustainability and improve talent retention and attraction.
I spent over twenty years in biopharmaceuticals learning the importance of health education and community support as well as the criticality of creating access to medications. Despite this knowledge, when perimenopause symptoms hit, I fell victim to Google Search, and knew there had to be a better way to learn about the menopausal transition
3. What challenges did you face when starting The Fuchsia Tent and how did you overcome them?
I feel like it would be easier to list the challenges I didn’t face. After spending so long working for others at higher levels, I was used to balancing big budgets and having help for implementation. Now I am CEO, CFO, Head of Marketing, Digital, Communications, and Sales. I LOVE it, and it’s hugely challenging. I also wasn’t used to creating full business plans and missed a lot of important steps when jumping into business (like forecasting and projections…oops). I’ve learned as I’ve gone along. I think the best things I have learned are to be willing to pivot when something isn’t working as expected, and that you can learn how to do anything using AI and Google Search.
4. From a marketing perspective, at this stage - what do you feel is working, not working in the growth of your brand. It’s always interesting to hear as founders navigate marketing on their own.
Social media marketing has been helpful for list building, but is much less impactful than I thought when it comes to sales. Most of my business comes through partnerships and sponsorships which can be more costly, but deliver much higher ROI than social or email for me. I think this has to do with the fact that my market, midlife women, face serious time poverty, between taking care of kids and aging parents, along with career, etc. They are much more willing to give attention to someone who gets them out of their routine (ie. events, talks, etc.) then they are when it comes to digital marketing.
5. What’s been the most surprising thing about entrepreneurship for you?
The rollercoaster of emotions and at times loneliness. As an introvert with diagnosed anxiety, I was certain I would love being by myself all of the time, and could handle the vacillating emotions. I was wrong. I get lonely and sometimes really miss thought partnership with others. Also, the high highs and the low lows of being your own boss can compound the loneliness. Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do, but there were many days very early in the process where I wasn’t sure what I had done to my life.
6. What goals have you set for the future of your brand?
We are less than a year old so I’d really like to see us breakeven this year financially. I know that isn’t super inspiring but it’s the truth. In addition, I would like to grow awareness around what The Fuchsia Tent provides, becoming a leader in the spaces of menopause in the workplace and transformational coaching.
7. Any advice for new entrepreneurs as a new entrepreneur yourself?
Make sure you really love what you will be doing, do your homework, and jump in with both feet. There will be times when you really want to give up, or feel like a total fraud. They will pass. Keep going.
RP RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS:
1. Do you prefer staying in or going out?
Staying in…All the way! Bed time 10:00 PM.
2. What’s your guilty pleasure snack?
Jason’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups
3. Early bird or night owl?
Early bird gets the worm
4. What superpower would you choose for yourself?
The ability to not give an eff what people think
5. If you weren’t in this line of work, what career would you want to pursue?
Actress- I did it up until 25 and I miss it!
6. Ideal vacation - Mountains or Beach?
Mountains and beach?
7. What was your last impulse purchase?
Chanel Maxi XL (for work)
8. Favorite business tool/tech/app?
Claude by AI (the world’s greatest employee)
9. Name another female founder we should know and support.
Sarah Olin, Lumo Leadership