E11: Three Founders. Two Continents. One no-compromise Product.

In this powerful episode, Sam sits down with the three founders of ⁠Sisterly⁠ — barrister Jenny O’Connell, former investment banker turned wellness coach Aoife Matthews, and brand developer Louise O’Riordan — to explore how three women with wildly different careers came together to fix a problem they were all living. From burnout, perimenopause, and supplement confusion to witnessing the extremes of LA wellness culture, each founder shares the moment they realised women deserved a simpler, science‑led, one‑and‑done solution designed specifically for the female body. Their shared frustration became the spark for a product built with evidence, expertise, and zero compromise. The trio take us inside the three‑year journey of building Sisterly during lockdown across Dublin, Madrid and LA — surveying over 100 women, assembling a world‑class medical and nutritional advisory team, and refusing to dilute their formula despite manufacturing setbacks. They talk candidly about the realities of founding a business with friends: the accountability, the values alignment, the emotional highs of Harrods, Vogue and B‑Corp certification, and the lows of stock shortages, delayed retail timelines, and learning to solve problems on the fly. Their “power of three” becomes a masterclass in collaboration, resilience and midlife reinvention. Sam closes the episode by exploring what’s next for Sisterly — global expansion, deeper community building, and a seat at the table in women’s health research. The founders share their biggest lessons: never compromise, listen obsessively to your customer, keep talking to people who’ve done it before, and follow your own North Star — the women you love. As Jenny says, “There’s nothing you can’t figure out. You just keep pivoting until you do.”