Mentor Spotlight: Gagandeep Kaur

Gagandeep Kaur, RPh
Mentor, Resilience in Motion
Pharmacist, Neighbourly Pharmacy
Kawartha Lakes, ON

 

If you told me a few years ago that I’d be mentoring International Pharmacy Graduates, I would’ve laughed, probably while pulling a 14-hour shift and reheating tea for the fifth time that day.

I came to Canada with a pharmacy degree, big dreams and zero shortcuts. I worked minimum wage jobs, sold my car to afford exam prep, and studied for 13 hours a day in 24-hour libraries with nothing but stubbornness and faith. I rode buses through snowstorms and worked warehouse shifts with swollen feet — all while telling myself, “It’ll be worth it someday.”

Becoming a mentor became that someday. Not because I reached some perfect destination, but because I survived the detours. And now, I show up for other IPGs who are still somewhere in the middle of their own journey, wondering if they’re doing it wrong. (Spoiler: they’re not.)

Our group sessions aren’t just about licensing, they’re about life. We share more than information. We share relief. The kind that says, “You’re not alone. You’re not behind. You’re building.”

What makes this mentorship meaningful is watching people go from self-doubt to self-trust. To see the light turn on when someone realizes, “I belong here too.” If I could tell every IPG one thing, it would be this: “You’re not starting over — you’re starting stronger.”

If you’re thinking about becoming a mentor, know this: You don’t have to have it all together. Just bring your story, your scars and a little humour (bonus if you have a mom voice that can cut through chaos). That’s more than enough to change someone’s world. Because sometimes, the best mentors are the ones who still remember the climb.

For anyone who might want to connect: linkedin.com/in/gagandeepkaurgdk