Shannice Mahadeo

Shannice Mahadeo is the group pharmacy manager for the Pharmaclin Group of Pharmacies. She speaks passionately about her journey in healthcare, community involvement and her aspirations. “Our business comprises 12 pharmacies surrounding Durban,” she says. “We cover areas from down south, including Doonside, all the way up to Overport and inland towards the Kloof/Gillitts area.”

Reflecting on her educational background, Shannice shares, “I went to Merebank Secondary School and later pursued a BPharm Honours degree at UKZN, qualifying in 2015. My internship came up in 2018, and I entered the world of pharmacy.” She adds, “I started my career with the Gulf Drug Company, working in quality assurance and regulatory affairs, but I also gained experience in community and hospital pharmacy. When someone told me I didn’t have enough experience for a permanent position, I was determined to prove them wrong. I locumed every day from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. until I gained enough experience.”

Her perseverance paid off, and after working with Lenmed, Shannice was offered a position at Pharmaclin. Shannice describes the opportunity as the realisation of a lifelong dream. “My biggest dream growing up was always to do something in healthcare, to help other people,” she explains. Initially, like many, she envisioned a career in medicine. However, after being accepted into pharmacy, she intended to use it as a stepping stone but found herself captivated by the field. “I loved it so much that I decided to stay. It was absolutely amazing.”

When asked about her inspiration, Shannice doesn’t mention celebrities but instead pays tribute to her late grandfather. “He was one of the most caring people I’ve ever known. As a healthcare professional himself, he valued education and hard work. He always said, ‘You should be half an hour early for work, the first one in and the last one out.’ That work ethic has carried me extremely far,” she reflects.

Joining the business about a year and a half ago, Shannice has made a significant impact, particularly in community involvement. “When I started, we launched a health information initiative on TikTok. We created content on medication awareness, hosted live streams and encouraged patients to come forward and ask questions. We also taught them how to do blood pressure and glucose testing,” she explains. “Eventually, we expanded our efforts to go directly into the communities.”

Her role also includes being part of the compliance team, ensuring the pharmacies maintain their pharmaceutical compliance and grading statuses. “There’s a lot to manage daily, but I love every bit of it,” Shannice says. “If you love what you do, you don’t work a day in your life.”

Community Involvement
Over the past six months, Shannice has witnessed extensive community involvement. “We’ve supported numerous initiatives around the location of our pharmacies,” she notes. “For example, we’ve been involved with the Lotus Angels in Isipingo and the MVG Mavericks Pool Club, where we contribute monthly. We also donated first aid kits to a sports club in Sydenham and sponsored the cricketer Sugehnee Naidoo’s trip for the ICC T20.”

Shannice elaborates on their active role in events, saying, “Aside from sponsoring, we participate in events ourselves. We sponsored R10,000 for the Miss Wentworth pageant and also served as judges. Even now, we’re collaborating with the contestants to help with our health awareness efforts.”

Her involvement extends beyond corporate sponsor- ships to tangible community support. “We have an event where we’re providing books, crayons, and stationery packs to Uthongathi Primary School in Hambanathi, which was affected by the floods. They reached out for assistance, and we’re stepping in to help,” she says with a sense of responsibility.

October shaped up to be a busy month for Shannice, who was preparing for a cancer awareness campaign. “I’m taking part in the ‘I Love Boobies’ campaign for breast cancer awareness,” she shared. “I’ll be doing a 42.2 km run. We’ve got a lot of initiatives planned for the month, and it’s exciting to be part of these projects.”

Her efforts extend to at least 13 different community projects, all of which she speaks about with pride. “It’s important not just to support these causes financially but to be actively involved. We want to highlight the organisations we partner with so they can receive recognition and possibly attract more sponsorship.”

Confidence is Key
Managing a network of pharmacies comes with its own set of challenges, particularly given Shannice’s tiny build, young age and relatively recent entry into a leadership role. “It’s difficult sometimes dealing with people who are older and more set in their ways,” she admitted. “They’re not always receptive to change.” Fortunately, she has had solid support along the way. “Our CEO helps me out a lot. He’s an amazing businessman who has been guiding me along the way wherever I seem to stumble a little,” explained Shannice.

Despite these hurdles, Shannice remains committed to making an impact in her field. To young women aspiring to enter the healthcare field, she advises, “You need to be confident and caring. Confidence is key. It’s not just about the money — you need to truly want to show up and make a difference. That’s how you make the biggest impact.”

Looking ahead, Shannice has big plans both professionally and academically. “We’re aiming to open more pharmacies in the future,” she reveals. “I’m studying towards a post- graduate diploma in Public Health at the University of Pretoria, and I intend to continue furthering my studies.”

Balancing her career with personal interests, Shannice has recently discovered a love for adventure sports. “I’ve become a bit of an adrenaline junkie,” she admits. “When I get a break, I enjoy activities like shark cage diving, rock climbing, and abseiling. I’ve tried them all recently and absolutely enjoyed the experiences.”

Shannice Mahadeo’s journey is one of determination and as she says, “It’s about showing up, putting in the effort, and genuinely wanting to make a difference.”