Highlight your Career Progression. In addition to your Degree in Pharmacy, are there any certifications you have obtained, or are you currently pursuing any that you would like to mention?
I am currently working as a pharmacist, but my career focus is on entrepreneurship, specifically in Health Information Technology. I am attending a school that does not issue official certifications or hold graduation ceremonies. When the circumstances are favourable for pursuing supervised studies again, I will consider rejoining my colleagues in that field.
What are you most passionate about in your Pharmacy practice?
Helping patients make effective use of their medications is a key aspect of pharmaceutical care. Unfortunately, very few Kenyans benefit from this service offered by pharmacists. Many people believe their prescriber is infallible, and they see pharmacists as merely there to follow orders without question.
What do you love about being a Pharmacist?
Medicines are the currency of the healthcare industry, much like the US dollar drives and unites the world economy. Pharmacists, as the custodians of medicines, play a critical role in this system. Imagine if everyone could create their own dollar notes and circulate them. The entire economy would collapse. Similarly, if drugs fall into the wrong hands, the healthcare industry will crumble, and we will be responsible for failing to faithfully perform our duties.
This deterioration doesn’t happen overnight. Like cancer, it develops slowly through harmful policies that we allow to pass, either out of selfish interest or because they don’t directly affect us at the moment. In everything we do, we must consider its long-term impact.
What do you consider the greatest achievement in your career as a pharmacist thus far? How has this achievement impacted your professional journey?
My greatest achievement is deciding how to use my pharmacy training and knowledge. I chose to pursue a career in health information technology. One of my mentors advised me to decide what I wanted and say no to everything else. Life is about trade-offs; you can’t have everything. I have turned down many opportunities that I felt were incompatible with my goals. I may have been wrong at times, but I have no regrets.
What has been your most challenging moment in the profession and what valuable lessons did you learn from it?
Entrepreneurship is like swimming—you learn by doing, and swallowing some pool water is inevitable. Facing occasional deep-end challenges is part of the journey, and I believe these struggles are worth the joy of creating something valuable. This hands-on experience is the real school of entrepreneurship. The key lessons I’ve learned, and continue to learn, are to stay open-minded and persistently pursue experimentation. Treat everything you do as an experiment. Experiments don’t fail; they either confirm our ideas or expand our understanding. This mindset helps me cope with the less pleasant realities of entrepreneurship.
What keeps you going?
The path of entrepreneurship is challenging; if it were easy, everyone would do it. However, knowing that others have succeeded gives me confidence that I too, can do it. Nothing worthwhile comes easy. The satisfaction of knowing that a patient in Mt. Elgon is being served using Dawascope PIMS motivates me to keep improving our product to serve all Kenyans better.
I have always wanted to positively impact a huge population of people, and I am thrilled to see this becoming a reality through the products we develop at Dawascope Technologies. As the saying goes, “When the promise is clear, the price is easy.” I am confident we will achieve our vision someday, and I am willing to pay the price in advance, joyfully.
In addition to being a Pharmacist, what else do you enjoy doing?
I enjoy feeding my mind with good books. I also take pleasure in farming and taking care of animals, driving, and engaging in any adrenaline-pumping activities.
What can you say to the young Pharmacist?
Every day, I remind myself that this journey is for me. Only God knows what tomorrow holds. Our role is to trust that He has the best plans for us and to do our part. To do your part, you must believe in yourself. If you don’t, no one else will, not even your mother.
A friend once told me that although a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, it also requires knowing the direction and having the strength to take that first step. Make a firm decision about your destination and follow the path. Don’t fear failure or ridicule; they are part of life. Seize any opportunity to strengthen yourself for the journey ahead.
We often wish we were born at a time when government jobs were guaranteed, but that’s not the case anymore. We can choose to complain or adapt and take action. Entitlement should not hinder our growth or prevent us from embarking on our journey. Even the Son of God did not demand special privileges but took on available work until He was ready for His appointed mission. Do whatever you must, but always remember who you are and your main goal.
You don’t have to create something from scratch. Intrapreneurship, working within an established business to innovate and create new streams of revenue, is just as valuable as entrepreneurship. Find an employer who supports innovation and is willing to share the profits.
It’s important to seize opportunities for quick gains, but not at the expense of long-term success. Don’t wait until you feel ready to start; pursue continuous improvement rather than perfection. You will never be completely ready, and you will never be perfect.
When you succeed, don’t assume others are lazy. You’re not more hardworking than the farmers who keep planting even after a failed harvest due to drought.
Is there something else you’d like us to add to your feature?
Visit our website: Dawascope.