PRIME PARAGON INTERVIEW — KEMI SOPE-AGBEBI

By Ogundipe Yemisi & Ishaku Daniel

Let us meet you

I am Kemi Agbebi, née Fameso, a graduate of pharmacy from the University of Lagos. I have an MBA from West Texas A&M University in Texas, United States. I like to think of myself as an analytical person influenced to a large extent by my pretty strong foundation in Physics. My love for Physics was so immense I cried when I moved on to Pharmacy school in my second year and found out it was no longer needed.

What do you do for fun?

Being a natural multi-tasker, I find it boring to do just one thing. So let me give a background story. As an undergraduate in pharmacy school, I was so enamoured by the arts that I would leave LUTH for Akoka to observe and understudy performing theatre arts students. My interest and apt for arts developed to the point that I started acting and was featured in some stage plays; the biggest of which was a lead character in “Camwood on the leaves” a Wole Soyinka series performed at Terra Kulture, Victoria-Island. Lagos. Interestingly, I studied for most of my in-course assessment tests in Year 2 while on set outside Lagos.

Were your parents in the know about your budding acting aspirations?

Of course not; coming from a Christian background, I could not tell my folks that I was featured in plays that had to do with deep traditional rites. But I have always been adventurous, so I wanted to do other things alongside pharmacy school. I graduated with a distinction despite my numerous extracurricular activities; I would say that a part of it was discovering what learning method worked for me. Reading on my own was more effective than attending all the classes.

Did reading on your own negatively impact your CGPA?

On the contrary, finding the method that worked for me and the push I got from my circle of friends who were also distinction students all contributed to my graduating with a distinction. Finding my learning pattern made pursuing an online MBA less daunting for me. An online MBA requires a lot of discipline and self-management.

Why did you opt for an MBA?

I have always been an entrepreneurial person. While in school, I used to sell books sourced from Ojuelegba and helped people with assignments and mini-projects for a fee. Post-graduation, I contemplated pursuing a PhD in the US; however, after discussing with my mentor at the time, Motolani Ogunsanya, who paved the way for me careerwise, I stayed back in Nigeria and chose to gain work experience instead. Getting an MBA after a few years of working as a manager was a no-brainer. Motolani is one of the smartest and kindest people I know. My first trip outside Nigeria was via her influence; she recommended me as the pharmacist for a mission trip.

When did you realize that clinical practice was not your thing?

In retrospect, thank God I had an excellent CGPA in my first year in pharmacy school. In subsequent sessions, my CGPA kept dropping because I got bored, particularly in my third year. At the time, pharmacy courses seemed too theoretical and abstract, unlike physics which was analytical. So, I felt like I was cramming a lot, and I could not relate to the course. I contemplated switching to medicine at some point, but I kept hanging on.

My light bulb moment occurred in my final year. Mckinsey sent out letters and brochures to distinction students in UNILAG. The moment I read Mckinsey’s brochure, I got fascinated with consulting. After undergoing the rigorous application process, I realized that consulting seemed like a thing I would like to do eventually.

Run us through your career journey post-graduation.

Sequel to graduation, I interned at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital Yaba. Post NYSC, I tried severally to get into the big fours, but God had a different plan. After scaling through a year-long application process, I. got an offer from one of the big fours. A week before my resumption, I was required to take some personality test that had no right or wrong answer sequel to that, I got a heartbreaking mail rescinding my employment offer. That was devastating. However, I was a contract market research analyst at Sanisphere at the time, so I was not in-between jobs.

After consulting did not pan out, I started looking for a medical sales position. I had a couple of heartbreaks getting the job. Eventually, I returned to the same clinical practice I was not too keen about. I resumed at Southshore hospital, where I doubled as the superintendent pharmacist and procurement manager. My experience at Southshore shaped my career trajectory. I learned to be detailed and to interact with different stakeholders because, as a procurement manager, I had to relate with wholesalers in Idumota, corporate distributors, and sales reps. So, I honed my logistics and supply chain management skills while in clinical practice; there was no medication I could not source for at the time. After one year at Southshore, I resigned after being stressed during commutation because I was expecting a baby. In between the self-acclaimed maternity leave, I temporarily started my drug procurement/supply business.

How did you handle credit facilities in the supply business?

Fortunately, I delved into products that required upfront payment, so I did not have to deal with delayed payments or debt. Then I started job hunting again. I got some hospital pharmacy positions, but the pay was not fantastic, so I turned them down. One of the offers I got had an excellent salary, but I resigned because I was not very comfortable with the hospital’s work culture.

I had developed so much professionally at this time that I was distinguished from my contemporaries — having gathered robust experiences from the hospital, supply chain, procurement practice, and various certifications. I believe all these contributed to my landing a job with a large-chain M&E company involved in the logistics of healthcare products. I enjoyed my stint there because they have a good work culture and care for their staff members.

Nonetheless, I left because I got a job with mPharma, which was a dream come true for me.

Your career journey has been fascinating, and I noticed you were very agile. Older generation pharmacists say we young pharmacists are not patient enough, and that we change jobs too quickly. What is your take on this?

No, not at all. I opine that our career path is a journey to a particular destination, so until one arrives, one has to keep moving.

“Getting a job with mPharma was a dream come true” why was that?

mPharma has been a trailblazer in the healthcare industry in Africa. In Nigeria, mPharma has always been one of the best places to work in the health sector. I could not refuse the offer because of their e-prescription business model which I was introduced to. I saw the innovation as something disruptive and knew that it would impart healthcare delivery positively. I can vividly remember my interview with my CEO, Gregory Rockson and it was mind-blowing. I looked forward to working with Greg because of how vast and well-read I discovered him to be.

What has been your most significant achievement working with mPharma?

My most significant achievement working with mPharma would be the opportunities for growth I have been given. Before March 2022, I was the country head of the wholesale business unit. mPharma provided me with platforms for my personal career growth. I have sat at the same table with big shots in the pharma industry. No way I would have gotten as much exposure anywhere else. I started as a project lead, and then became procurement manager. That portfolio gave me a solid foundation and training because. I was doing procurement and distribution while simultaneously interfacing with customers. I became customers’ success lead, focusing more on customer satisfaction and retention. As customer success lead, I was also in charge of HMO partnerships.

My work experience at mPharma shaped me and developed my soft skills and tenacity to complete whatever I start. Many abandon projects halfway, partly due to delays from other supporting units and I see how it affects their overall performance. As country head, I dealt with many of those instances. My business unit was recognized as the best-performing unit globally by the CEO in 2021 despite the fact that we had the highest target at the time.

The roles I occupied in mPharma contributed to my success in MBA class especially because I had practical knowledge. The leadership course I did was highly insightful; that module dissected me, I learned and unlearnt a lot from it, and I can tell that it was the most influential course I ever did. After that course, I became equipped with the perspective of leading a team for performance.

What did the course reveal to you about yourself?

A lot that I cannot even begin to mention. The module entailed performing case studies on the top 5 pharma gurus in the world where authentic leadership is concerned. We examined their leadership styles, mistakes, and achievements. one of the leaders we studied was Daniel Vasella, a pharmacist and former CEO at Novartis. We analyzed one of his books on leadership, where he wrote about leaders being tough on employees to get jobs done. So, in his book, he wrote that he would have concentrated more on building relationships than being strict with employees. During the book review at the conference, I referenced that portion of his book and asked if he would have led differently if he could go back in time, and he said no.

You must be a rich blend of being tough and building good relationships with employees. I can place my staff on PIP (performance improvement plan), a kind of probation, and they will smile and thank me because I will let you know that it was for their personal growth, not a punishment.

At my first exposure to being a manager, I would give directives, just hit the nail on the head, and move. After that course, I realized I had a flawed approach, as such, I had to go back to the drawing board to get things done the right way.

What would you say are the contributing factors to where you are today?

My relationship with God and people. God’s leadings and how he opens my eyes to become better at every given opportunity even in the most unfavourable conditions. I do not give up easily because of this. And then people; no matter what, people around you are pivotal to your subsequent elevation in life. Don’t lord yourself over people/subordinates. Check your intentions for why you want to ascend to a higher position. If it is to bully people, that will be the wrong motive.

What’s your take on migration?

People are looking for greener pastures which is very valid. I still want to advise anyone leaving to have a plan. To see beyond just leaving for greener pastures to fulfilling destiny and finding fulfilment. I have a support group in Nigeria (Room 707) where I lead a team of about 50 young people, empowering them to offer support to other young people having struggles related to mental health issues like depression, anxiety etc. It gives me a sense of fulfilment as I am able to impact lives.

Finally, how do you juggle mPharma, family, and everything in between?

My schedule is very tight as I am constantly working. But I will say my rock has always been God. My children are very well-behaved and so understanding. They understand when I am working and rarely interrupt. My children are so used to my work persona that when they are asked what their mummy’s name is they reply; ‘Kemi MPharma’

Also, I have a strong support system. Firstly, my husband and then friends, family and mentors.