Can you build a portfolio career as a pharmacist? Here’s what I’ve learned

In an earlier article, I wrote about what a portfolio career is and why you might want one. If you haven’t read it, I recommend doing so for context. However, if you’d prefer to continue, the main thing to know is that a portfolio career has two defining characteristics:It involves pursuing multiple passions, interests, or types of workIt is never static and always evolvingIn this article, I want to share some lessons from the early stages of building my own portfolio career, in hopes that they offer useful insight as you consider creating your own.My portfolio career is currently composed of a mix of part-time and contract work (community pharmacy, external drug reviews for an insurer), alongside creative work (painting commissions and murals, design projects, writing, and most recently live art at weddings and events).I’ll start off by saying that it’s taken time to get here, and I’m not yet where I want to be. A significant portion of my time is spent on activities that don’t directly generate income—learning new skills, practising and experimenting within my craft, engaging in coffee chats, and creating content on social media. Not to mention the internal work needed to challenge limiting beliefs and pursue new directions.That said, I’m grateful to have built a level of stability alongside more creative fulfillment, flexibility, and adventure than I experienced in my previous, more linear career in pharmacy. This path has also required me to show up in new ways and develop skills I hadn't previously had the chance to. More importantly, I learned (and continue to learn) a great deal about myself.With that context, here are three lessons from the early stages of building a portfolio career.1. Determine what need(s) each stream of work fulfillsMost of us know better than to expect one person to meet all of our needs. Yet somehow, we expect this from a single job. The traditional narrative says: jobs are for an income, end of story. I don’t fully subscribe to that. The average person spends 80,000 hours working. Call me naive, but it feels reasonable to want some level of fulfillment, growth, and enjoyment during those hours, too.The beautiful thing about a portfolio career is that it allows you to intentionally design your work around your needs. In my previous article, we also talked briefly about the ideation stage—you may have asked yourself what you’re good at and what you want more of in your life. At thisstage, you’re deciding which pieces to include. A helpful question to return to, both at the beginning and throughout your journey, is: what needs(s) does this particular role fulfil? Common answers include:Financial stabilityImpact or purposeCreative expressionLearning and developmentCredibility or prestigeThere could be others, and they will likely change over time. For example, my work in pharmacy fulfils my needs for financial stability, purpose, learning & development and credibility. My creative work fulfills others, and some of the same. As both you and your portfolio evolve, this question becomes a useful anchor for decision-making.2. Your systems will make or break youThis is important for anyone who works for themselves, but especially for those balancing multiple roles, priorities, and deadlines. Coming from a background of science and pharmacy, where there’s often an evidence-based answer or structured approach, stepping into entrepreneurial or creative work where there are consensus statements, algorithms, or evaluations can feel a bit like a cold plunge. Often, there’s just an idea and your own judgement and taste. What I’ve found to be true:The more freedom you have, the more structure you needIt’s helpful to build your systems based on how you actually operate (your habits, learning style, and energy)There are endless tasks, but only a few that really matter.I’ve found 4000 weeks by Oliver Burkeman helpful for gaining perspective and improving at prioritization. I also invest in self development through books, podcasts, and working with a coach and therapist. That said, the most important practice is simple: identify what matters to you most in your current season, and show up for that consistently. I’ll keep this section brief, as I’m very much still actively refining my own systems.3. You might not get it right the first time—and that should be expectedWhen contemplating a career shift, it's easy to be influenced by stories of rapid success. Someone launches something new and becomes profitable within a few months. While that can happen, a more realistic timeline for building something sustainable is often closer to 2-3 years in the case of small businesses.If possible, create space to experiment. For me, that included creating space to step back from full-time work, and using that time to travel, spend time with family, complete my yoga teacher training, and explore a range of creative projects, both large and small. Each attempt taught me something new and helped to clarify what to pursue next. Progress in this kind of path is rarely linear, but it is cumulative.Building a portfolio career is not a quick or straightforward process. It requires patience, experimentation, and a willingness to navigate uncertainty. But it offers something many of us are seeking: the ability to shape our work around who we are, rather than the other way around.If you’re considering this path, start small. Pay attention to what energizes you and what aligns with your current needs. Then adjust as you go. There’s no final version of a portfolio career; there’s only the version that fits you right now. If you’re exploring this for yourself or have questions, feel free to reach out. I’m always interested in hearing how others are approaching their work and what they’re building.

Can you build a portfolio career as a pharmacist? Here’s what I’ve learned

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Dian Han

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