Safiyya Ali-Mohammed

How long have you been with the company?
This is my ninth year with the company where I started as the Pharmacy Manager at Just Personal Pharmacy Marabella in January 2005. I was promoted to Pharmacy Chain Manager in February 2008.

Give a brief outline of your academic background

• I graduated with a B.Sc. in Pharmacy with honours from The University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago in the year 2000.
• I am currently pursuing my EMBA (Executive Masters in Business Administration) at the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business.
• I am also a certified Trainer with the Dale Carnegie Trinidad since 2006. I am qualified to deliver The Dale Carnegie Course®, High Impact Presentations and Dale Carnegie Seminars.

What is your main function as Pharmacy Manager?
I am responsible for the strategic growth of Hi-Lo’s in store pharmacy chain, Just Personal Pharmacy. I am aligned to my CEO’s belief that when we focus on our people, they will focus on our customers who will in turn focus on our business.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to help people. That is why I chose the medical profession as a career. It is very satisfying that I am in a position that can directly influence the personal care of our customers’ health and wellness so that they can live a healthy, rewarding, fulfilling and enjoyable life. For me, we are adding value to peoples live every day.

What aspirations do you have when it comes to the Pharmacy area in Hi-Lo?
I see the Just Personal Pharmacy as much more than just an area in Hi-Lo, Just Personal Pharmacy will become a destination in all Hi-Los. I want to see our customers’ expectations being exceeded each and everytime as a result of our enthusiastic and knowledgeable pharmacy staff who treat everyone just like family. Certainly, my vision is to see our Just Personal Pharmacies even more frequent than gas stations. I look forward for a significant presence in all new Hi-Lo Food stores. I will pursue pharmacies being added to all existing refurbished Hi-Lo’s and adding increased convenience for our customers by branching out on our own as standalone entities with our convenient Hi-Lo Super Section always severing our customers with providing a one stop shopping experience.

What is your favourite book?
I particularly enjoyed “The 21 Indispensable Qualities of A Leader- Becoming the Person Others Will Want To Follow” written by John C. Maxwell.

What is your “must have item” when shopping at Hi-Lo?
I am passionate about health and wellness and I love eating salads. When I shop at Hi-Lo, I love the iceberg lettuce and other gourmet ingredients for salads.