Pharmpreneur of the week Stacey D'Angelo: "I thrive on problem-solving and breaking the mold."

Snapshot

Education: 

University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy, Class of 2012 

Role/Title: 

Pharmacist Coach & Founder of Your Simple Health

At Your Simple Health we help people optimize, streamline and reduce medication use. We work directly with patients, specializing in deprescribing and pharmacogenomics. 

What excites you about being an entrepreneur? 

What excites me the most about being an entrepreneur is the opportunity to solve a problem or fill a gap in the market. I thrive on problem-solving and breaking the mold. Being an entrepreneur allows me to innovate and create unique solutions to help patients in their healthcare journey. As a pharmacist, I have always been passionate about providing a holistic approach to healthcare and deprescribing (even from my early days as a long-term care pharmacist!). Because the purpose and values of my business resonate with me, I can get excited to go to work every day. 

What was your key driving force to become an entrepreneur? 

I think the term 'entrepreneur at heart’ has some real truth! The driving forces behind why I want to create and develop my business are passion, innovation, and autonomy. I wanted the freedom to make my own decisions and create something that aligns with my values and vision.

How do you define success? 

Success, for me, is not measured by awards, job titles, or money. It's about finding a sense of purpose in what I'm doing and making a positive impact on the well-being of both myself and the individuals I serve through my business. To define success, it is important to first identify what you want in life and then measure your own success against getting as close as you can to that goal. Personally, I am striving for the concept of ‘Ikigai’ (if you haven’t heard of it, look it up!), and I believe I am well on my way to achieving that.

What are the biggest challenges to being an entrepreneur? 

Being an entrepreneur comes with its fair share of challenges. One of the biggest challenges is taking risks and treading the unbeaten path, adopting a mindset of saying "why not?" and embracing the uncertainties that come with innovation and problem-solving. Treading a new path particularly involves a lot of “sales” and storytelling. It takes practice! 

Another challenge is that building a successful business involves wearing many hats and getting used to doing various tasks, not all of which are ones you necessarily want to be doing (especially in the start-up phase). It requires picking up your socks and getting things done, even if it isn't your favourite thing to do or what you envision yourself doing at the end. Along the journey, it is important to enjoy the process and always connect back to your "why." 

Finally, being an entrepreneur requires balance – being focused on your goals while also having an open mind. Being able to pivot and adapt when necessary is crucial for success.

What books/resources do you recommend for every entrepreneur to check-out?

One resource that I highly recommend for every entrepreneur is the TEDTalk "Start with Why" by Simon Sinek. He also has a book by the same name. While it is an older video and may have lower video quality, the message it conveys is incredibly impactful. It delves into the importance of finding your purpose and defining the "why" behind your business. 

What advice would you give to colleagues who want to become entrepreneurs? 

My advice is to invest in yourself. Seek out support and resources that can help you navigate the journey from point A to point B. When I was creating the idea for Your Simple Health, I enrolled in a small group business coaching program that proved to be incredibly helpful in defining and developing my offering, and jump-starting my business. Investing in such programs or mentorship opportunities can provide you with the guidance and motivation needed to take the leap and bring your ideas into reality. Entrepreneurship is a journey, and having the right support system in place can make all the difference.

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