Her Story
About Kimberly
Kimberly White built her career in the pharmaceutical industry, beginning with part-time work in a pharmacy during high school and earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology with pre-pharmacy studies from the University of Iowa in 1987. She worked at Eli Lilly and Company, focusing on neuroscience and mental health while calling on psychiatry professionals in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Kimberly earned certifications including Six Sigma and the highest level from the American Society of Pain Educators, which emphasized understanding and addressing pain associated with mental illness. She has served on three different mental health boards, including with NAMI (National Alliance for Mentally Ill), its local Orange County chapter, and NMHA, where she contributed to philanthropy and programs aimed at reducing stigma and connecting communities. Passionate about mentoring, Kimberly advises young women entering the field to educate themselves proactively and seek out pharmacist mentors. She attributes her success to focusing on the positive aspects of situations, maintaining confidence, and applying honesty and ethics in all interactions. In retirement, Kimberly plans to pursue her passion for artwork by starting a greeting card business and enjoys traveling, particularly to destinations like Bali.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kimberly
01What do you attribute your success to?
I always try to look my hardest for the brightest side or the nicest part of the story or, you know, knowing that there's some bad stuff out there, but applying the good to it and focusing on the good, I think has helped me out of a lot of different situations... having the confidence to be able to do that and just not listening to anybody that's telling you something you don't want to hear.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
They've taught me things that I need to know to coach myself and coach people that I mentor... help me find the good in this... How can I make the most out of the situation? What can I learn from the situation?... keep me up there when things around me are just so difficult... whether I need a compliment or you can do it or a thank you or a great job.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Educating yourself. Don't wait for somebody else to educate you on the field... go find another colleague who's in pharmacy college or... your own pharmacist and have them mentor you... When I was in high school, I worked part-time in a pharmacy... I picked their brain all day long every time I was at work.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Being the only woman in your division, or being recognized for being a woman versus how talented you are, and just being a token symbol... going to a lot of places that were pretty scary and had a lot of scary patients... Having the empathy or getting over the empathy of, you know, really trying to say, hey, this is not a hard job, I'm just here to help patients and make their lives better, and I'm really good at what I do, and it's not just because I'm just a woman.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Always looking at the positives... being very, very open and candid... honesty is huge... ethics I think are important as well... being a true partner, a true friend, a true wife, a true mentor... helping somebody move to the next step.
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