Dr. Lakesha Butler, PharmD

I attribute my success first and foremost to God, whose guidance, grace, and favor have been the foundation of every opportunity I have been given. In moments of uncertainty, I have leaned on faith for wisdom, clarity and strength, trusting that each step—even the challenging ones—was part of a greater purpose. Alongside my faith, discipline and perseverance have played a critical role. I have committed to continuous growth, embracing both successes and setbacks as opportunities to learn and refine my path. I believe in pursuing excellence over perfection. I also recognize the importance of serving others—leading with compassion, integrity, and a genuine desire to leave this world better than I found it. The support of my community has further strengthened my journey, reminding me that success is never achieved alone. Ultimately, my success is the result of faith in God, a willingness to work diligently, and a commitment to walking in purpose while uplifting others along the way.

One piece of career advice I have received that has stuck with me is to believe in myself even before I feel 100% ready. That advice has pushed me to pursue opportunities that stretched me. It has also pushed me to gain new skills and not wait for perfect confidence before taking action. Don't be afraid to pursue bold opportunities to have bold impact.

I think that we have to accept that adversity will be a part of our story. However, it is the way that we handle the adversity. Throughout my career, it hasn't always been easy. I've certainly seen adversity, and I believe that it's important to learn lessons from those situations and not stay stuck. Ask what could I have done differently or what are the ways that I can improve from this adversity and pivot. We are going to face challenges at times, but keep pressing forward and remember your why,

the impact you want to make and the people you want to serve. Remember the purpose behind your effort. When things get tough, that why will keep you grounded and will motivate you to keep moving forward versus solely focusing on the failure or the challenges. I believe in failing forward. When things don't line up how we would have hoped, don’t quit, learn, perservere and continue going forward.

An opportunity is to ensure that we are practicing and operating at the top of our degrees. Pharmacy school entails significantly rigorous learning and pharmacists can be extremely valuable medication experts in many healthcare settings. Pharmacist roles are evolving and being tied to positive health outcomes especially in value-based care.

Service, gratitude and compassion towards others is at the core of who I am as a follower of Christ. Another value is connections. I think connections with others and having a strong community is valuable for personal and professional growth and development. I also value lifelong learning and consistent self-improvement.