Jennie Haire, alongside co-founder Lisa Hughes, created Gigi Supplements to empower women to live happy and symptom-free at every stage of their reproductive lives. Here, she reflects on her story so far, shares her daily routines, and lets us in on how she switches off.
I’m Jennie Haire, CEO and Co-Founder of Gigi Supplements and I’m passionate about women’s health and nutrition! I have an undergrad degree in Science from UCD, a Masters in Business from Michael Smurfit Business School and a degree in Nutritional Therapy. I have always simultaneously loved science and business. After graduating from my MSc I spent five years working as a Management Consultant with PwC before leaving to set up my own female health nutrition clinic, following which I met my current business partner Lisa and we saw just how much the market needed a brand like Gigi Supplements.
Gigi Supplements is a female health brand that creates science-backed solutions for female hormonal health, founded and formulated by nutritional therapists – myself and Lisa Hughes. Gigi launched the PMS & Hormone Balance Blend onto the market in November 2023 after one year in development.
With a combined experience of over 12 years working with women in their clinical practice, Lisa and I could see just how much women were struggling with debilitating monthly symptoms associated with hormonal imbalances. This, coupled with our own personal experiences with painful periods and irregular cycles, ignited a huge passion to improve women’s health.
As nutritionists, we understood how powerful the right nutrients, in the right doses can be for supporting female health and wellbeing, but when we were unable to find a product on the market that was formulated with this in mind, we got to work to create our hero product, the PMS & Hormone Balance Blend!
Daily routines
I try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep, but I don’t do well on much less than that. I’m an early riser, always have been. My morning starts with either a walk with my husband and puppy, a gym session or a pilates class. Working out in the morning sets me up for a productive day.
This is followed by a high protein breakfast, which is usually a savoury one like eggs as this is what makes me feel best for the day, and then I either make my way into the office, hit the road for meetings or pop upstairs to my home office for the first work block of the day.
I have a bad habit of jumping straight into social media when I first wake up. This is something I really want to change because if you see something negative first thing, it can really have an impact on the day ahead. I always try to plan my week ahead in my Agenda journal from The Head Plan on a Sunday evening – this is so simple but so effective for a smooth, productive week!
Because I’m ex-corporate, my brain is wired to view 9am-5pm as the work day but being completely honest, as a founder of a start-up, I can work pretty strange hours, both because I love it and sometimes it’s just needed.
I get to create my day in a way that suits me, which is something I absolutely love. A good example of this is the way I always try to keep my meetings to the afternoon, as I’m most productive in the morning and find that this is the best time for me to get creative/deep work done to my highest standard.
A day in the life
Gigi HQ is in Dublin City Centre. The team works Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in the office and Monday and Friday at home. Of course, this can change week to week depending on what we have going on, but typically I find work from home on Mondays and Fridays gives a great balance!
My working day varies so much, from team days in Gigi HQ to days of meetings spent hopping around Dublin, to travelling to meet suppliers in London, to hosting brand events, to attending networking and business events. But if I were to give you a very average Wednesday, it would probably go like this.
Gym in the morning, home for breakfast and a shower, DART to Gigi HQ, some creative work on strategy plans and financial planning, lunch meeting in Grand Canal Dock, afternoon of meetings with different team members and external calls. Then I’m home for dinner and a walk with the dog.
I adjust my workouts to where I am in my cycle. I’ve tracked my menstrual cycle for over five years now, so I’m very in tune with my hormones and understand how much they personally impact me. I don’t do high-intensity workouts during my late luteal phase when my energy is lower. If I have a busy work week, I make a conscious effort to try and have a chill weekend.
Every single week is different, but some of my favourite days are when we get the opportunity to meet our customers or collaborate with other brands that align with ours to create a really special experience. We host a lot of female health-focused events for Gigi as myself and Lisa love to empower and educate women about their hormonal health and overall wellbeing, it’s a huge passion of ours and part of the job that we adore.
I’m an extroverted person and love connecting with other business owners and customers but I recharge my batteries alone. At 30, I feel I have a good understanding of when I need to take a step back or ask for help if I’m feeling overwhelmed.
The work task that energises me the most is a quarterly strategy meeting! New product development plans, creative ideas for marketing, financial planning… the works!
Off-the-clock routines
Meals are usually pretty good but if my day is super busy, lunch can be a bit rushed and if I’m stressed… chocolate!
My skincare is a big part of my night routine which is pretty much made up of all Irish brands. The biggest contenders are Skin Formulas and Ella & Jo – LOVE! I love my make-up, especially Sculpted by Aimee — but what Irish girlie doesn’t at this rate!? I also get regular facials.
My most important self-care ritual has to be working out and my monthly full-body massage, and I need time off and sunshine to replenish my energy and creativity. My ideal day off begins with morning coffee in bed with my husband and puppy, a pilates class and coffee, catching up with a bestie, some retail therapy and a dinner out in one of my favourite restaurants – bliss!
Switching off
I find it incredibly difficult to switch off. Every evening, I feel like I should be doing more. Over the weekends, I’m thinking of all that I need to get done for the week ahead and taking time off in general is something I haven’t mastered.
If I were to give advice to my fellow businesswomen, I would say to get a planner and plan your week ahead of time. That includes everything from what’s for lunch and dinner to when you’re fitting in that pilates class and manicure appointment!
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