Elise Apolloni: The Young Gun Reimagining Pharmacy in Australia

Elise Apolloni, Managing Partner at Capital Chemist Wanniassa, isn’t your average chemist. In 2017, she took home the Telstra Australian Young Business Woman of the Year award, and the story behind that win is exactly what makes her the kind of entrepreneur worth paying attention to.

Treating Her Community Like Family

Elise doesn’t see customers as numbers. She doesn’t push products. What she does is something a lot more human.

“I see all my customers as a cousin or a sister of a brother I cry with them, I laugh with them, and we partner in their health care. It’s about building lifelong relationships with people and being there for whatever may happen to do with their health.”

That mindset built a pharmacy that’s more than just a place to pick up prescriptions. It became a part of the community.

Not Just Business, It’s a Mission

Outside the pharmacy, Elise gives her time to things that matter. She volunteers as a telephone crisis supporter at Lifeline Canberra, works as a phone counsellor for the National Pharmacists’ Support Service, and teaches Mental Health First Aid. That’s on top of running a business.

But for Elise, success isn’t about awards or titles it’s about pushing her industry forward.

“I’m not only trying to transform how our pharmacy operates, but how every pharmacy in the country looks after their people, and make sure the innovations through my business inspire and help pave the way for other pharmacies around the country to do what we do.”

She’s Not Slowing Down Anytime Soon

After winning the Telstra award, Elise made it clear she’s just getting started.

“I’m pretty sure I’m not going to be bored for the next 12 months. I’ll just continue to keep telling people about the awesome things that pharmacists can do for them, I’ll keep telling pharmacists to really push themselves and try new things to innovate and be the best version of themselves for their community.

I just want to make the most of every single moment.”

That fire in her belly showed even during the final round of judging. Elise was attending her father-in-law’s funeral and had to step out of the wake to jump on two final Skype interviews with the Telstra judges. And she still nailed it.

“I am ecstatic, I feel like I’m floating… and it’s still kind of sinking in the gravitas of what has happened,” she said.

“If you’d asked me four years ago if this would happen, I would not have believed it in a million years but you keep putting your hand up for things, and saying ‘yes’ instead of ‘no’ and taking every opportunity and here you are!”

A Word From Telstra

Joe Pollard, then Group Executive Media and Chief Marketing Officer at Telstra, had this to say about Elise:

“She’s bringing innovation to the pharmacy industry, leading the sector to become more future-ready. Not only is she providing health services and mentoring for the population, she’s an optimist and a motivator. Her vision for improving health care for all Australians is inspirational.”

Why It Matters

There are more than 900,000 visits to community pharmacies in Australia every day. Elise wants every single one of those moments to count. She’s proof that big change doesn’t always come from the top it can come from your local chemist down the road.

In a world obsessed with fast growth and big exits, Elise Apolloni shows us what long-term leadership really looks like.

Credit Image:https://hercanberra.com.au/