Pharmacist and entrepreneur Sehar Shahid is the board director for Scotland at the National Pharmacy Association. She talks sustainable lifestyle changes, building a business and empowering other women

Wellness ethos

I founded 24 HR Pharmacy in 2023 – an online pharmacy that prioritises patient-centred care. It’s about bringing conventional medicine and holistic care together under one roof, so people can become the healthiest version of themselves. So many online services are purely transactional – patients fill in a form, receive the medication and that’s the end of the interaction. I knew there had to be a better way. Before launching my own service, I worked as a consultant helping online pharmacies, and I could clearly see the gap in patient support.

Lasting habits

As an obesity specialist pharmacist, I’ve spent years understanding that sustainable weight loss comes from combining medication with lifestyle, behavioural and emotional support. I’ve written an ebook focused entirely on lifestyle – nutrition, exercise, stress and gut health – all the things that impact weight loss beyond medication. My approach has always been about bite-sized change. If I overwhelm someone with huge goals, they’re far less likely to succeed. I always tell patients: don’t try to change everything overnight. Pick one tip from each chapter and build it into your life. 

Finding balance

People often ask how I manage to do so much, but the reality is that all the things I do are interconnected and rooted in passion. I think wellness is about creating a life that energises you, although rest is just as important as productivity. I’m very intentional about doing things that help me switch off and reset – whether that’s going for walks, reading or cooking. I love bringing people together, feeding them and creating that sense of connection.

Dose of Empowerment 

I launched a networking community for women in healthcare last year – it originated from me feeling really lonely while building my business in a very male-dominated industry. I started receiving messages from women saying, ‘You inspire me – can you mentor me?’ and I realised there was such a need for community. Sometimes people don’t need someone to do it for them – they just need someone to say, ‘I believe in you, and you can absolutely do this.’