Jennie Haire, CEO & Co-founder of Gigi Supplements

Tell us about your new business and your journey from management consulting to where you are now? 

I'm the CEO and co-founder of newly launched Gigi Supplements, a female health brand on a mission to make symptom-free menstrual cycles the norm with sustainable, superior-quality supplements.

Since I was 18, I've had a passion for science/nutrition and business. I studied both at UCD but felt I needed to choose one. I parked the science and began my career in management consulting. After a few years, however, I realised how much I missed the nutrition side of things, so I started studying nutritional therapy part-time.

I felt I needed to marry my love for business and nutrition, so I co-founded my first company, Your Wellness Collective – a health and lifestyle platform specialising in corporate wellness and personalised supplement advice. 

Following that, I spotted a gap in the market for premium female health-focused supplements, so I set up Gigi Supplements with my co-founder Lisa Hughes. I see health as the foundation of all other aspects of our lives. If you're unwell or burnt out, every other area – personal relationships, family and career – takes a hit. We've all returned to the speed and intensity of pre-pandemic life, so it's never been more important to look after your mental and physical health.

What challenges have you met setting up a new business in a post-pandemic world?

As someone who loves connecting with others, getting out and meeting fellow entrepreneurs and business owners has made the journey – one that can be quite lonely at times – very enjoyable. 

I think the pandemic provided a lot of opportunity for the health and wellness industry. People were forced to purchase almost everything online and became more comfortable buying health-related products, like supplements, online. They also became more aware of the importance of looking after their health, so their willingness to invest increased.

What has driven you throughout your career?

I've always been motivated by seeing the tangible impact I can make, whether working with PwC on a large transformation programme for a multinational or supporting people through my 1:1 nutrition practice.

Gigi is a very impact-driven company whose goal is to deliver the next generation of female health – a standard and quality that I felt was missing in the market but badly needed by women globally.

What did you learn during your time at PwC that you still apply to your role today?

Everyone who knows me knows how much I enjoyed my 4+ years working with PwC. I made some of my best friends there and couldn't have asked for a better start to my career.

One of the things that drew me to completing my MSc in UCD Smurfit in Management Consultancy was the diversity of the work. This diversity – as well as the people – also attracted me to management consulting at PwC. 

I'm a very methodical thinker. Everything needs to be designed in a way that makes sense and is efficient. In hindsight, I can see why I was the right fit for the Operational Effectiveness team! 

I still use so many skills today that I honed at PwC. From a technical perspective, the key ones are using data, both quantitative and qualitative, to inform decision-making and understanding the importance of establishing robust processes in a business from the outset. It essentially helps build a business that has manners! 

I have always invested in creating meaningful relationships throughout my career, and this is something that PwC's culture really supports. The firm attracts a particular type of individual – smart and hard-working, but also genuine and fun.

What do you value most about the alumni network? 

I'm always so proud to say that I'm ex-PwC and whenever I meet someone from the PwC network, there's always a great connection, a bond that paves the way for a great conversation. 

What’s next for you and your business?

We have big plans for Gigi. We’re working to establish it as the market leader in premium, science-backed female- focused nutritional supplements in Ireland and international markets. 

We're so confident and passionate about how Gigi's products can support women to be happy and symptom-free at every stage of their reproductive lives. I'm excited for the road ahead!