Leading by example

Never do anything by halves

My father, an industrial chemist, first sparked my love of science and instilled a principle that has guided every part of my career: never do anything by halves. If you commit to something, give it your full effort.

That mindset shaped my studies at university, where I realised my interests sat firmly at the intersection of scientific research and patient care. I wanted not only to understand the science behind potential treatments, but also to see the real-world impact they could have on the people who rely on them.

Some of my most important early lessons came from community pharmacies. They are places where people speak honestly. Patients rarely talk only about symptoms; they share how their condition affects their work, their families and their confidence.
Having these conversations day to day with patients is a privilege and a responsibility, and I believe it is these conversations that shaped my perspective.

Speaking directly with patients broadened my understanding of illness beyond the clinical description. Often it was not the symptoms themselves that patients raised first, but the wider impact on their lives that drove them to seek help.

Listening helped me understand how, within my role as a pharmacist, I could best support them. My time and experience as a locum pharmacist instilled in me a lasting commitment to ensure that patients’ voices are heard. I am proud that this patient-centred instinct has stayed with me throughout my career.

Finding my voice

As a woman building a career in science, female leaders were relatively rare. On many occasions I found myself presenting to a room largely filled with men, or as the only woman in my cohort. That prospect could feel daunting.

Rather than being discouraged, I focused on the quality of my work and the purpose behind it. In many ways, it motivated me to work harder, to stand out, to do things differently and to become an example for women who might follow.

At times it felt like I had to fight to be heard and to create opportunities for myself.
One moment that stands out was becoming one of the first Pharmacy graduates to receive King’s College London Alumni funding, following a 1st class honours degree, to complete a PhD.

I subsequently won the CW Maplethorpe Postdoctoral Research Fellowship – a highly competitive, prestigious award administered by a management panel and associated with both King’s College London and UCL School of Pharmacy for the promotion of pharmaceutical education and research.

Being the only woman recipient of the CW Maplethorpe Fellowship at that time marks a significant contribution to women in pharmaceutical science and research.

Experiences like this reinforced something I strongly believe today. Leadership is not about fitting into existing moulds. It is about bringing your experience, values and conviction into the room. That belief has guided me throughout my career.

‘Leadership is not about fitting into existing moulds. It is about bringing your experience, values and conviction into the room’

Modelling what’s possible

That conviction strengthened further when I became a mother. Parenthood brings a different understanding of vulnerability, resilience and the importance of advocacy.
The resilience I had built while navigating a competitive, male-dominated field took on a new meaning.

It was no longer only about my own ambition; it was also about the example I was setting. I have two daughters, and I want them to grow up seeing that women belong in science, in leadership and in the decision-making spaces that shape healthcare.
The responsibility of modelling that – of showing what it means to lead with empathy, integrity and ambition – continues to motivate me every day.

When I completed my MSc in International Health Technology Assessment, Pricing and Reimbursement, my three young children were there to see me graduate at the University of Sheffield. Having them in the audience made the milestone deeply personal.

It felt like a quiet message to them: that motherhood and ambition can sit side by side, and that it is possible to lead with both purpose and presence.

Lived experience

This perspective has also shaped my work in rare disease, a field where the challenges are both unique and deeply human. When patient populations are small, awareness is often limited, research funding can be scarce and resources harder to mobilise.
What struck me most when I entered this field was the extraordinary focus and commitment of those working to support people with rare, and sometimes life-threatening, conditions.

Many people face long and complex journeys to diagnosis, alongside the challenge of navigating healthcare systems that may have limited experience with their condition.

Yet one thing consistently stands out: patients and their caregivers often become the true experts in their conditions. Their lived experience provides insights that no data set or clinical report could fully capture. We have a responsibility and accountability to amplify that voice.

Rare disease has taught me that progress requires something very specific: focus; dedication and partnership with the people most affected.

Thinking back to my role as a pharmacist, I realise that what mattered was not only understanding people’s stories – it was doing something meaningful with that knowledge both for them and for others.

That mindset has become the backbone of my attitude to leadership: if you are in a position to make a positive change, you have a responsibility to act.

All these experiences have shaped the leader I am today: someone driven to deliver meaningful work, who believes in doing things fully and with purpose, and who feels a responsibility to help create something better for the patients and communities we serve.

Being a woman in pharma is part of that story. I want my daughters and my son to see that women can lead with conviction, compassion and expertise, and that a career in science or healthcare is theirs to claim if they choose it.

No woman should feel held back from pursuing the path that inspires her.