How This Leader Made Cathay Cargo Terminal More Period-Friendly | Good Period Alliance
- Good Period Team
- Jul 4
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 9
Cargo moves fast. But change takes someone to stop and notice what’s missing.
At Cathay Cargo Terminal, where over 4,000 tonnes of goods move through daily, supporting people means understanding the unique demands of a 24/7 logistics hub. In 2024, Carol, Head of People, took a closer look at the support systems in place and realised one essential area had been overlooked: menstrual health.
It wasn’t part of the facilities. It wasn’t part of the policy. And it wasn’t part of the conversation.
So, Carol started one.
As she learned more about the growing global — and local Hong Kong — shift toward ‘menstrual equity’ at work (defined as creating environments where individuals can manage menstruation safely and without stigma), Carol began exploring practical ways to begin that journey at Cathay Cargo Terminal — from ensuring access to products to fostering a supportive workplace culture.
Carol’s team worked with us to introduce freely accessible organic cotton period care products in washrooms, not only in the offices, but also across terminal facilities operating 24/7. This was paired with menstrual health workshops for employees of all genders, creating space for open, stigma-free dialogue across teams.
What stood out was who joined those conversations. Male colleagues didn’t shy away from the topic — they engaged with it. “Their support really helped,” Carol said. “That kind of empathy is how we create lasting change.”
For Carol, that shift from silence to shared understanding was one of the most rewarding parts of leading the initiative. “It’s not only about supporting women,” she said. “It’s about building a respectful environment where everyone feels included. And I’ve received such positive feedback from all. That response inspired Carol to share the experience across the wider Cathay Group, encouraging other teams to consider what meaningful inclusion might look like in their own spaces. Her message is simple: you don’t need to have all the answers — just the willingness to start.
“It doesn’t take much,” she said. “But it does take someone to take that first step. And when you do, people notice. They feel it.”- Carol
Carol’s efforts show that even in more operationally complex environments, like a 24/7 cargo terminal, small steps to support menstrual health spark positive team-wide shifts.
“Supporting menstrual health shouldn’t depend on what industry you’re in,” she said. “It should be part of how we take care of people — full stop.”
Through GoodPeriod Alliance, Carol will be able to share Cathay Cargo Terminal’s learnings with more businesses, helping drive city-wide progress toward menstrual equity and championing a model of leadership that ensures no one is left behind.
