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Did you know that 60% of the pharmacy profession in the UK are female and 43% of the profession are of black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds? I didn’t, but thanks to the Female Pharmacy Leaders Network (FPLN), I have had a chance to speak to and learn from brilliant women from diverse backgrounds, who are working across all sectors of pharmacy.
From working mothers to working daughters, the network recognises and understands the difficulties faced by women in the pharmacy profession. Led by Reena Barai, superintendent pharmacist at SG Barai Pharmacy in Sutton, Surrey; Komal George, a pharmacist and pharmacy business strategist; and Harpreet Chana, a pharmacist and founder and chief executive of the Mental Wealth Academy, the FPLN is full of inspiring, strong and empowering women.
As a pharmacy student, coming into the pharmacy world feeling inexperienced can be overwhelming. A combination of not knowing anybody in the industry; pressure to make an impression; comparing yourself to people’s LinkedIn profiles; finding confidence in practice; and trying to make a difference in an ever-changing profession can be a struggle.
The FPLN provides a safe space for women to come together, reflect and learn from one another
At times, this can be isolating and deter people from making the most out of opportunities or harnessing their potential, especially when there are many societies and platforms with lots of pre-existing members, making you feel like an outsider.
The FPLN is set apart from networks because it provides a safe space for women to come together, reflect and learn from one another — something that is often neglected in our busy lives. The network invites and supports women at every stage of their careers.
I first encountered the network at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Annual Conference in November 2024, which I attended because I wanted to learn from the best practising pharmacists. I had never attended a conference before, so this was my introduction to pharmacy networking. I travelled alone to the event, unsure of whether I would be the only first-year student or only student representing my university. Nevertheless, I wanted to challenge myself to grow outside of my comfort zone.
The first stall I approached was the FPLN stand. The warm welcome that I received lifted me up and all those negative preconceptions about being out of my depth disappeared when I knew that there was a network that would support me. It gave me the confidence to speak to other attendees and became one of the highlights of my year.
I went on to attend webinars hosted by the British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association, in collaboration with the FPLN, and a webinar with author Giselle Goodwin. My first impressions were overwhelmingly positive and encouraging. Recurrent themes of women supporting women, having a dedicated space to share ideas and the support to become visionary leaders all stood out to me.
At the end of webinars, there is an opportunity to ask questions, allowing for open, vulnerable conversations. Each session often leaves you with reminders on how to take care of yourself; achieve a work–life balance; cope with being a mother or having caring duties; stand up to adversity; deal with societal expectations; and other valuable advice, highlighting the importance of personal wellbeing and its contribution to personal and professional growth.
The network also offers a dedicated group of women to talk to, as well as the opportunity to mentor each other. To know that there are women out there who genuinely want to see others succeed and progress, reassures you that you’re not alone and you are more than capable of achieving your goals, no matter what stage you are at.
Whether you’re already in a leadership role or wanting to advance in your career, you don’t have to take that leap alone. This group of women is shaping the leaders of the next generation and lowering the ladder behind them so other women can step up too.
As a student who is new to the sector, when I’m with the network I feel as though I am a part of something bigger — making a lasting impact and helping to shape the future of pharmacy.
If you are looking for support and authenticity, or simply need someone to talk to, I would highly recommend joining this group of women. You can join the network here and follow the FPLN on LinkedIn.
Ruby Howarth, MPharm student at the University of Huddersfield
