The ENIGMA Mentoring Initiative

We are ENIGMA. A non-profit initiative founded in 2023 which serves as a mentoring scheme specifically supporting female pharmacy professionals from ethnically diverse backgrounds to enhance their leadership skills. But why is this necessary? In England, there is underrepresentation of ethnically diverse pharmacists within pharmacy leadership compared to their representation in the general pharmacist workforce. Those most affected are female pharmacists from ethnically diverse backgrounds. We recommend reading the Pharmacy Workforce Race Equality Standard (PWRES) for more information. ENIGMA is all about #doingsomething and being #morethanstrategy. We have plenty of EDI documents, data, and strategies within pharmacy and beyond. Now is the time for #actionnotwords. We are pleased to have demonstrated ENIGMA is an impactful action. And so, we continue on this journey and hope you will support us along the way. For more details on what ENIGMA involves, please read below… ENIGMA runs in cohorts, with one cohort per year. In September 2023, the first cohort was piloted in pharmacists working in general practice in Leeds. Following the success of cohort 1, the offer was expanded for cohort 2 to include all female pharmacy professionals (pharmacists and pharmacy technicians) from ethnically diverse backgrounds, working in any sector, and across all of England. Through mentoring relationships, ENIGMA aims to provide support, encourage creation of networks, and develop authentic allies. The team seek out enthusiastic and experienced female senior leaders to become mentors. Mentors and mentees are paired where possible based on mentee goals and mentor area of expertise and encouraged to meet a minimum of 3 times over a 6-month period. At the end of this period, pairs decide if they wish to continue the mentoring relationship, or if goals have been met, complete the relationship at 6-months.