Page 39 - KZN Top Business Women 2024

It’s about showing up, putting in the effort,

and genuinely wanting to make a difference.

Joining the business about a year and a half ago, Shannice cancer awareness,” she shared. “I’ll be doing a 42.2 km run.
Group Pharmacy Manager,
has made a significant impact, particularly in community We’ve got a lot of initiatives planned for the month, and
Pharmaclin Group of Pharmacies involvement. “When I started, we launched a health it’s exciting to be part of these projects.”
information initiative on TikTok. We created content
hannice Mahadeo is the group pharmacy manager on medication awareness, hosted live streams and Her efforts extend to at least 13 different community
for the Pharmaclin Group of Pharmacies. She speaks encouraged patients to come forward and ask questions. projects, all of which she speaks about with pride. “It’s
Spassionately about her journey in healthcare, We also taught them how to do blood pressure and important not just to support these causes financially
community involvement and her aspirations. “Our business but to be actively involved. We want to highlight the
comprises 12 pharmacies surrounding Durban,” she says. glucose testing,” she explains. “Eventually, we expanded organisations we partner with so they can receive
our efforts to go directly into the communities.”
“We cover areas from down south, including Doonside, recognition and possibly attract more sponsorship.”
all the way up to Overport and inland towards the Kloof/ Her role also includes being part of the compliance team,
Gillitts area.” ensuring the pharmacies maintain their pharmaceutical Confidence is Key
compliance and grading statuses. “There’s a lot to manage Managing a network of pharmacies comes with its own set
Reflecting on her educational background, Shannice
daily, but I love every bit of it,” Shannice says. “If you love of challenges, particularly given Shannice’s tiny build, young
shares, “I went to Merebank Secondary School and later
pursued a BPharm Honours degree at UKZN, qualifying what you do, you don’t work a day in your life.” age and relatively recent entry into a leadership role. “It’s
in 2015. My internship came up in 2018, and I entered the Community Involvement difficult sometimes dealing with people who are older and
world of pharmacy.” She adds, “I started my career with more set in their ways,” she admitted. “They’re not always
the Gulf Drug Company, working in quality assurance Over the past six months, Shannice has witnessed extensive receptive to change.” Fortunately, she has had solid support
and regulatory affairs, but I also gained experience in community involvement. “We’ve supported numerous along the way. “Our CEO helps me out a lot. He’s an amazing
community and hospital pharmacy. When someone told initiatives around the location of our pharmacies,” she businessman who has been guiding me along the way
me I didn’t have enough experience for a permanent notes. “For example, we’ve been involved with the Lotus wherever I seem to stumble a little,” explained Shannice.
position, I was determined to prove them wrong. I Angels in Isipingo and the MVG Mavericks Pool Club, where Despite these hurdles, Shannice remains committed to
locumed every day from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. until I we contribute monthly. We also donated first aid kits to a making an impact in her field. To young women aspiring
gained enough experience.” sports club in Sydenham and sponsored the cricketer to enter the healthcare field, she advises, “You need to be
Sugehnee Naidoo’s trip for the ICC T20.” confident and caring. Confidence is key. It’s not just about
Her perseverance paid off, and after working with

Lenmed, Shannice was offered a position at Pharmaclin. Shannice elaborates on their active role in events, the money — you need to truly want to show up and make
Shannice describes the opportunity as the realisation of saying, “Aside from sponsoring, we participate in a difference. That’s how you make the biggest impact.”
a lifelong dream. “My biggest dream growing up was events ourselves. We sponsored R10,000 for the Miss Looking ahead, Shannice has big plans both professionally
always to do something in healthcare, to help other Wentworth pageant and also served as judges. Even and academically. “We’re aiming to open more pharmacies
people,” she explains. Initially, like many, she envisioned now, we’re collaborating with the contestants to help in the future,” she reveals. “I’m studying towards a post-
a career in medicine. However, after being accepted into with our health awareness efforts.” graduate diploma in Public Health at the University of
pharmacy, she intended to use it as a stepping stone but Pretoria, and I intend to continue furthering my studies.”
found herself captivated by the field. “I loved it so much Her involvement extends beyond corporate sponsor-
that I decided to stay. It was absolutely amazing.” ships to tangible community support. “We have an event Balancing her career with personal interests, Shannice
where we’re providing books, crayons, and stationery has recently discovered a love for adventure sports. “I’ve
When asked about her inspiration, Shannice doesn’t packs to Uthongathi Primary School in Hambanathi, become a bit of an adrenaline junkie,” she admits. “When
mention celebrities but instead pays tribute to her late which was affected by the floods. They reached out for I get a break, I enjoy activities like shark cage diving, rock
grandfather. “He was one of the most caring people assistance, and we’re stepping in to help,” she says with climbing, and abseiling. I’ve tried them all recently and
I’ve ever known. As a healthcare professional himself, a sense of responsibility. absolutely enjoyed the experiences.”
he valued education and hard work. He always said,
‘You should be half an hour early for work, the first one October shaped up to be a busy month for Shannice, Shannice Mahadeo’s journey is one of determination and
in and the last one out.’ That work ethic has carried me who was preparing for a cancer awareness campaign. as she says, “It’s about showing up, putting in the effort,
extremely far,” she reflects. “I’m taking part in the ‘I Love Boobies’ campaign for breast and genuinely wanting to make a difference.”

Shannice MAHADEO | 37