Loretta Dignam, Founder and CEO, The Menopause Hub
Loretta Dignam is an award-winning Marketer of the Year, who opened the doors to The Menopause Hub, Ireland's first and only dedicated multidisciplinary menopause clinic, in December 2018. Loretta is the Founder and CEO.
The Menopause Hub is Ireland's first dedicated, multidisciplinary clinic, which includes a team of doctors - GPs and Gynaecologists, a psychologist, a dietitian and nutritionist, a women's health physiotherapist and an acupuncturist.
Loretta is an advocate for menopausal women and has developed a programme to support organisations with menopause in the workplace awareness and education training and policy development.
She has had a lengthy and highly successful career working for many multinational, global businesses, including; Mars Inc, Diageo plc, Kerry Group plc Ardagh Group, and Jacob Fruitfield, as a senior marketing and communications leader.
She was awarded Marketer of the Year in 2011. She is a graduate of UCD and DCU and has lectured in the UCD Smurfit Business School on their executive MBA and MSc Programmes. Loretta has just stepped down from six years on the Board of the Abbey Theatre, where she was a ministerial appointment.
She also chaired their Gender Equality Committee, driving change in gender equality policy across Irish theatre, chaired the Development Committee, and was a member of the Audit and Risk Committee.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
Facebook is where a lot of my target market is, plus I can post links to content, surveys, and other things more easily than on Instagram. And LinkedIn is great for my menopause in the workplace programmes.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
I founded The Menopause Hub in Dec 2018, borne out of my own experience of going through menopause, which I found to be challenging, lonely, embarrassing and a taboo topic. I found it difficult to navigate the right support and help. I discovered that other women were experiencing similar issues.
I had previously seen the positive impact of introducing a gender equality policy at our National Theatre, The Abbey Theatre, and its ripple effect on the wider theatre community. This ability to influence change prompted me to do something practical and tangible to support other women like myself.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
I love that I am helping women across the nation to manage their menopause their way. This is so rewarding. The feedback is so incredibly positive and uplifting. Women regularly tell me that The Menopause Hub has given them back their life, their old self, and they are so grateful to my wonderful team and me. I also love problem-solving, tackling a challenge, learning new skills and ultimately making women's lives better.
It certainly has been a baptism of fire moving from the corporate sector into the medical world. I have been on a very, very steep learning curve. However, my skills and experience acquired along the way in my career to date mean that I launched the service built on clear consumer insight; we put the patient (just like the consumer) at the heart of everything we do. In addition, my branding and communications skills have helped me earn a brand footprint in a space far bigger than our business size.
My financial management skills enable me to manage the business profitably. My HR skills are helping to build a growing team. And my strategic skills have enabled me to drive the business into geographical expansion in Ireland and move into the corporate space to support organisations to become menopause friendly workplaces.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
To thine own self be true.
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
My higher purpose of trying to help menopausal women manage their menopause is my driving force. I have a laser-focused vision of what I want to achieve. This keeps me on track, focused, disciplined and working towards my goals. I know that what I am doing is good and is rewarding. And the positive feedback from women is humbling. I am continuously adapting and problem-solving, and I try to ride the highs and the lows. I manage setbacks well and bounce back quickly.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
My two wonderful children, who are kidults and no longer children. I raised them as a divorced single parent, who worked full-time outside the home, all of my career. They seem to have grown into decent human beings who can take their place proudly in society. I am also so proud of the work we are doing at The Menopause Hub... it's like my new baby!
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
Through others. I am an extrovert, so meeting new people does not phase me. However, I am particularly good at networking. And I try to help others in their networking too.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
Resilience - I am very resilient, I am told. I am also an optimist and usually see things positively. I work hard, and I am always prepared to roll up my sleeves, a must for anyone considering becoming an entrepreneur. I believe in myself and my purpose. My training and experience with top drawer multinationals and working with great people have helped me be a more rounded business person.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
Actually, I don't wish I had known anything because that may have put me off doing several things I have done. Ignorance is bliss! I may not have opened The Menopause Hub, for example.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
When I was young, Fergal Quinn always impressed me with his innovative and leading customer service. However, on my journey, I have had the privilege of working across various sectors, countries, organisations; I have been a student and lecturer. In addition, I have been a graduate trainee, a C-Suite leader and a non-exec board member.
Along the way, I have worked with many great people who have influenced me and taught me. I have also seen how not to lead and who not to admire, which has also helped shape me as an individual. So, no one individual stands out.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
I love sport. I cycle; I rowed at UCD and still row nowadays (except Covid put an end to it for a while). I love basketball. And I ski every year. And I am about to take up fencing. I also love theatre and cinema and live gigs, all starting to come back again after Covid. Family and friends are hugely important to me. I have no time for anything else!
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
The Menopause Hub was only 15 months old when the pandemic hit. I was concerned, like everyone else, that the business would not survive. However, very quickly, we pivoted to online consultations via telehealth video. This gave women geographical access to our services, from the comfort of their own home, without travelling long distances. In addition, I got to go out to work every day, throughout the pandemic, as we were an essential service. This helped my sanity… a lot, thankfully
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
I had a mentor for many years, which was fantastic. I have had several mentors for different aspects of life and have an Enterprise Ireland Mentor at present. I have mentored several other people and found it so rewarding.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
It is not for the faint-hearted! But, follow your dream. It is better to start now than wait for perfectiont!
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
Attitude, loneliness and sometimes some things are just insurmountable.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
Nothing ventured, nothing gained... that's my motto!
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
Zoom - talk about the right place, right time and making the most of it.
Kia for their great electric cars.
Revolut for seeing a gap in the market and seizing it.
Aldi & Lidl for making themselves into a German-Irish brand.
Depop - for their exchange clothes online business.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
Success to me is being proud of my achievements. Achievements are through meeting my goals. Goals are milestones to my vision. My vision stems from my purpose. My purpose is what I want for my legacy.
I never wanted to go to my grave, having only sold Pedigree dog food, Whiskas cat food, Mars bars and Dolmio.