The Power of People: Kavita’s Approach to Pharmacy Success

1 week ago

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In this episode of Pharmacy Podcast, a stream of Pharmacy View Podcast that provides regular interviews with Pharmacy leaders, entrepreneurs, and members of The Independent Pharmacies of Australia (IPA), host Melody Mugari, a Pharmacist and Programs and Corporate Partnerships Manager at The Independent Pharmacies of Australia Group (IPA) welcomes Pharmacist and Chemist Discount Center partner, Kavita Nadan, who is also the Co-Founder of Locumate. From her journey as a first-generation migrant from Fiji to becoming a trailblazer in the Australian Pharmacy industry, Kavita shares her remarkable story of resilience, leadership, and innovation. With a passion for empowering others and streamlining healthcare processes, Kavita discusses her path to Pharmacy ownership, her unique approach to team leadership, and her venture into the entrepreneurial world with Locumate. This conversation offers valuable insights into balancing personal and professional aspirations, and Kavita’s mission to shape the future of Pharmacy and beyond.

Pharmacy View Podcast · EP 7 – Pharmacy Podcast – The Power of People: Kavita’s Approach to Pharmacy Success

Topics Covered

Kavita Nadan’s journey from Fiji to becoming a Pharmacist in Australia
Pharmacy ownership and the Chemist Discount Centre
Empowering and mentoring teams in the workplace
Balancing Pharmacy ownership with motherhood
The creation and growth of Locumate
Locumate’s expansion into the U.S.
Mentorship and leadership in the Pharmacy field
Work-life balance strategies

Key Quotes (Time Stamps)

“I wanted to work with people, like firsthand; like constantly be around people. That’s what I was used to. So, for me, I decided on Pharmacy because it felt like a safe space. It was my comfort zone.” (5:39 – 5:50)

“I highly encourage any Pharmacists who are like straight-up, I want to be an owner one day—go do your time as I call it; and go and actually be in the thick of it, learn your style, learn how you want to approach things.” (8:21 – 8:34)

“My way that I run my business and my business flourishes is through my people. I am 100% sold on if I empower my team to be able to be there and know the purpose of what I’m trying to achieve, I know they will make sure that my business is successful and we as a team are successful. (8:48 – 9:03)

“My biggest pride is a team that I’ve built and continue to build, and I’ve taken that across to my Locumate journey as well.” (9:22 – 9:29)

“For me, what’s important is how passionate are they, how much do they really want to be there? What is their future long-term vision and goal? So, when we hire interns, especially at my Pharmacy, I want to know are you going to be…what is your what does your pathway look like? Where do you want to end up? Because if I can have a part in that, I will be able to then curate the role and be able to give you the resources, the tools, everything available that I have in my power to be able for you to upskill and to develop.” (11:09 – 11:42)

“And one thing that I always do in my Pharmacy is we have this system that everyone should know how to do everything. It’s literally almost like a little tagline—everyone should know how to do everything.” (14:55 – 15:07)

“I like to train up all my staff where possible to be dispense techs because that continuity of care runs through the whole Pharmacy.” (15:35 – 15:43)

“I’ve always run my Pharmacies like that. I won’t have an extra two steps in a process which I know we can actually cut down and automate or make more efficient. I’ve always been looking for ways to be able to better systems in in our Pharmacies.” (27:50 – 28:06)

“I guess with Locumate, when I saw the inefficiencies in getting talent into Pharmacy, I was like, surely, come on, we’re in 2020, there has to be a better way, honestly, with all the tech that we have available now.” (28:12 – 28:35)

“Our vision was always to make sure that we allowed access to talent, whether it was Pharmacists, Pharmacy Assistants, Retail Managers down the track and talent in all aspects of Pharmacy.” (34:16 – 34:28)

Important Time Stamps

From Fiji to Pharmacy: Kavita’s Inspiring Journey (3:17 – 9:48)
From Passion to Purpose: Kavita on Inspiring the Next Generation of Pharmacists (10:06 – 16:19)
From Pharmacist to Pharmacy Owner: Kavita’s Inspiring Journey in Pharmacy Ownership (16:20 – 23:53)
Learning to Let Go: How Setting Boundaries Transformed Kavita’s Pharmacy Career (23:54 – 27:12)
From Frustration to Innovation: How Locumate Streamlines Pharmacy Staffing (27:13 – 42:58)
A Chance Meeting and Big Plans: How Locumate Broke into the U.S. Market (42:59 – 45:39)
Empowering Women in Pharmacy: Kavita’s Vision for Growth and Mentorship (45:02 – 49:00)
Secrets to Balancing It All: Pharmacist, Business Owner, and Mom! (49:02 – 56:43)