Personal Note from Rachel

Greetings,

Rachel here. As May draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the role of agreements—how we make them, how we honour them, and how they shape everything from our leadership style to our daily working relationships.

In coaching, leadership, and pharmacy, agreements aren’t just formalities—they’re foundations. This past month reminded me that the ICF Core Competency “Establishes and Maintains Agreements” shows up everywhere:

• In how we celebrate excellence

• In how we respond to change

• And in how we choose to grow

Whether we’re agreeing on roles and responsibilities with a team member, setting expectations with a client, or aligning with our own values, the clarity of our agreements creates a ripple effect.

Here’s a look back at May’s key events and a look ahead to an exciting opportunity to keep growing, connecting, and learning.

🏆 Irish Pharmacy Awards – Celebrating Shared Commitments

One of the honours I treasure over the past number of years has been to serve as a Judge for the Irish Pharmacy Awards.  On Saturday, 24 May, the 13th annual Irish Pharmacy Awards took place at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road in Dublin. Organised by Irish Pharmacy News, the event brings together pharmacy professionals from across the country to recognise excellence, innovation, and impact within the sector.

Hosted by Marty Whelan, the night was filled with heartfelt moments, inspiring achievements, and a sense of pride in the evolving role of pharmacy. Over 600 guests gathered to honour winners in 13 categories - The Winners in full: 

• Janet Corish, Campile Allcare Pharmacy, New Ross - Originalis & Pluripharm Community Pharmacy Technician of the Year Award

• North Road Pharmacy, Drogheda - McLernon Computers Independent Pharmacy of the Year Award

• Charlotte Carroll, Raheny’s McCartans Pharmacy, Raheny -IPN Counter Assistant of the Year Award

• Allcare Pharmacy - Clonmel Healthcare Customer Service (3+ Pharmacies) Award

• Millmount Pharmacy, Drogheda - United Drug Business Development (Independent) Award

• Meadhbh Holohan, Boots Pharmacy, Harold’s Cross - PKF Brenson Lawlor Young Community Pharmacist of the Year Award

• Spooners CarePlus Pharmacy, Templeogue -Haleon Self-Care Award

• Navi Group - BOI Payment Acceptance (BOIPA) Innovation & Service Development (Chain) Award

• Brogan’s totalhealth Pharmacy, Loughrea -Lynked Excellence in Technology Award

• Adrian Dunne Pharmacy, Rush - Uniphar Training & Development Award

• Michael Maher, Mahers totalhealth Pharmacy, Drogheda -Perrigo Superintendent Pharmacist of the Year Award

• Dan Whelan, Meaghers Pharmacy, Ranelagh Reckitt Community Pharmacist of the Year Award

• Adrian Dunne Pharmacy, Trim - Athlone Pharmaceuticals Community Pharmacy Team of the Year Award Winner: Adrian Dunne Pharmacy, Trim

The awards highlight how deeply rooted our pharmacy profession is in trust, adaptability, and a shared responsibility to deliver high-quality care.

What stood out most, though, was the sense of collective agreement—a shared commitment to doing what’s right for patients, teams, and communities. Congratulations to everyone who played a part in making this year’s event such a success.  Be inspired by each other, as each of you inspire me. 

📍 IPU National Pharmacy Conference – Getting the Balance Right

Earlier in May, the IPU National Pharmacy Conference brought together pharmacists, thought leaders, and policy influencers to reflect on one of the profession’s biggest challenges: balance.

With the theme “Navigating the Evolving Role of Community Pharmacy: Getting the Balance Right,” this year’s conference created a space for open dialogue. Topics ranged from the increasing pressure on the workforce, to the need for stronger support systems, to the shift toward more integrated roles in public health.

Speakers tackled the big questions:

• How can we embrace innovation without overwhelming our teams?

• What systems do we need to protect pharmacist wellbeing?

• How do we balance commercial demands with patient-centred care?

Technology was also front and centre, with discussions about digital tools that can reduce burnout, streamline workflow, and enhance patient engagement.

Perhaps most importantly, there was a strong call for leadership development—encouraging pharmacists to take ownership of their professional growth and advocate for the conditions that enable them to thrive.

Clear agreements—on roles, expectations, and boundaries—are essential as we build pharmacy workplaces that are sustainable, resilient, and ready for the future.

🌐 Coaching.com Summit – You’re Invited (3– 12 June)

I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be returning as a facilitator for Coaching.com’s Summit 2025.  It's the world’s largest coaching and leadership development event.  Would you like to join me?  

Last year, this event brought together 40,000 global attendees, and 30 visionary speakers, and some of the most meaningful conversations in the leadership coaching space today. Whether you're a seasoned coach, team leader, HR professional, or someone simply looking to elevate your impact, there will be something in this Summit for you. 

I’m honoured to once again be leading multiple Implementation Mastery (IM) Sessions, one of the most hands-on and transformational parts of the Summit. Following each webinar—IM facilitators host real-time experiences designed to help you apply new insights immediately. In small groups, we explore challenges, test frameworks, and engage in deep dialogue so you walk away with practical tools that actually move the needle.

This completely virtual, completely free global event takes place from 3-12 June, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most inspiring gatherings of coaches, leaders, and changemakers this year.

The theme, “Shape the Future Through Coaching,” couldn’t be more relevant. Over 8 days, attendees will hear from world-renowned voices like:

• Liane Davey on fostering accountability without eroding empathy

• Peter Hawkins on coaching the connections within and between teams to drive organisational transformation

• Michael Bungay Stanier on leading hard change challenges through coaching

• Marcia Reynolds on transformational leadership through coaching conversations 

• And many other global thought-leaders who are pushing boundaries and creating impact.

The event is designed with professional coaches, business leaders and HR & talent development in mind, so it offers international perspectives for healthcare leaders, managers, and anyone curious about how a coaching approach can improve communication, build trust, and drive better outcomes. 

Being a Member of Coaching.com and facilitating peer sessions with global coaching and leadership colleagues is an investment I prioritise.   It enables me to stay at the cutting edge of global thought leadership and to infuse my newsletters, coaching, training and facilitation with evolving best practice, for your benefit. 

Expect powerful conversations on:

• Leading through uncertainty

• Cultivating inclusion and psychological safety

• Applying coaching to systems, teams, and one-to-one relationships

This is not just another virtual conference. It’s a chance to realign with your values, refresh your leadership style, and connect with thousands of like-minded professionals across the globe.

🎟️ Register for free and help spread the word. Let’s ensure the people who need this event the most still hear about it.

Let’s Keep Growing – From Clarity to Trust

As we reflect on May, we’re reminded that strong leadership starts with clarity. The ability to establish meaningful agreements—whether written or unspoken—is what helps teams move forward with confidence and cohesion.

But clarity is only the beginning.

Looking ahead to June, we shift our focus to another vital coaching competency: Cultivates Trust and Safety.

Trust isn’t built by job titles or qualifications—it’s built moment by moment, through how we show up, how we listen, how we respond under pressure. When people feel safe to speak up, ask questions, or bring forward ideas, growth happens.

The Coaching.com Summit acts as a bridge between these two themes. It encourages us to move:

• From clear expectations…

• To creating the conditions that make deep, lasting engagement possible.

It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about being the kind of leader who knows how to hold space for challenge, creativity, and change.

Are You Ready to Go Deeper?

If this season is calling you to grow in how you lead, communicate, or create space for others, I’m here to support you.

Through the Lead With Coaching Institute (LCI) or personalised one-to-one coaching and strategy sessions, I help healthcare professionals:

• Create aligned, sustainable agreements in teams, coaching relationships, and leadership roles

• Build cultures of psychological safety that support high performance and wellbeing.

• Navigate change with more clarity, confidence, and connection

📩 Simply reply to this email if you’d like to explore what leadership development training (LCI) or one-to-one support might look like for you. No pressure—just a conversation to help you decide your next step.

Warmest wishes,
Rachel
The Pharmacist Coach
Director of Education, Lead With Coaching Institute

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