“Not Designed foR the GRind”
A TEDx Talk by Marlou Cornelissen
What if the way we’ve learned to push, perform and persevere is actually… the problem?
“I share the story I never thought I’d tell on stage -
about my illness, loss and the quiet wisdom I found when I was forced to stop.”
In this powerful TEDx talk, our Founder, Marlou Cornelissen, uncovers what happens when we ignore our body’s wisdom and what becomes possible when we reclaim our cyclical nature. From menstrual health to workplace equity; watch, listen, like, comment and share, as she makes a compelling case for a future of work that flows, instead of fights. Want to work together? Let’s book a call!
Before you press play:
The more the talk is watched, commented on and shared, the more likely it is to reach the people who need it most — in workplaces, schools and communities across the world.
If it resonates, here’s how you can help:
✔️ Every view, like and comment helps this message spread
💬 Leave a comment on YouTube — Marlou will be reading and replying to every comment
📤 Please consider sharing it with 3 people who need to hear this
🔥 Share the TEDx talk on your own channels - we’ve made that super easy!
Love it?
Here is how we can work together:
I help businesses make menstrual health a normal, supported part of workplace wellbeing where everyone can thrive.
I speak, consult and create transformative spaces rooted in Cycle Awareness, equity and rhythm-based leadership.
If your organisation, team or audience is ready to rethink success, resillience and build systems that honour real bodies,
real lives and real change — I’d love to talk.
OR
TEDx Truths: The stories behind Marlou’s TEDxNorthwich journey
In this 10-part blog series, Marlou shares her TEDxNorthwich story; from hitting ‘submit’ on her application to standing on that red dot (and beyond!) Think of it as the unfiltered version of what you see in the final talk. Click on the links below to read in full.
The “Not Designed for the Grind” Global Wall of Voices
This TEDx talk sparked a movement - and we’d love for you to join it. We’re building a living wall of photos from around the world; people holding signs that say “Not Designed for the Grind.”
All you have to do is:
Write "Not Designed for the Grind" on a sign
Take a selfie with it
Submit it using the form below
In case you’re up for helping us spread the word:
We’ve made your life easy! Download our Campaign Toolkit to find ready-made visuals and pre-written social media copy!
Your story matters. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Mic Dropping Quote Cards
Want to help this message travel? We’ve created quote cards featuring mic drop moments and messy truths from the TEDx talk that you can easily share on social media.
Examples include:
“My body and I weren’t even speaking the same language”
“Do you hide your products up your sleeve when
you walk to the toilet?”
“We are not designed for the grind. We never were.”
Bring this message into your Organisation, Team or Event
We work with organisations, communities and schools around the world to integrate cycle awareness, rhythm-based leadership and equity-focused wellbeing into real systems.
Whether it’s through keynotes, consulting, or culture transformation - this isn’t a side topic. It’s the core of how we build things that last.
Let’s talk about how this could work in your world.
This talk isn’t just about periods. It’s about power.
It’s about systems. Bodies. Change.
And it starts - like all revolutions do - with awareness.
