MMR: Mass Market Retailers, June 22, 2020

MASS MARKET RETAILINGS MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN Kathleen Jaeger Senior VP Pharmacy NACDS President NACDS Foundation securing authorization for COVID 19 testing she says During this unprecedented time it has been a privilege to be part of the NACDS team representing the industry and their amazing teams on the front lines and at mobile COVID 19 testing sites who are among our health care heroes she comments They have demonstrated extraordinary bravery compassion and caring and an unwavering commitment to their customers and neighborhoods they serve They continue to play an essential role supporting hospitals first responders and public Jocelyn Konrad Executive VP Chief Pharmacy Officer Rite Aid on their journey to wellness We know that pharmacists are among the most highly trusted and accessible health care professionals so we want to unlock their full potential to be advocates of whole being health We believe pharmacists are uniquely positioned to advise customers on the full spectrum of pharmaceutical and holistic wellness solutions available to them Konrad says Rite Aid is working on refining every aspect of the customer experience as the company puts forward a vision for the future while ensuring that it keeps its communities healthy Elena Kraus Senior VP General Counsel Walgreens risk to customers team members and the company as a whole says Kraus The way the company works now will have longlasting effects she adds The legal profession and lawyers that have been traditionally very slow to adopt technology have been pushed to rapidly adapt to a new way of working Even the court system has changed the way it works with appearances and oral arguments handled remotely Walgreens has embraced using technology for internal meetings and has held very few in person meetings with government officials outside counsel or ARLINGTON Va During the COVID 19 pandemic Kathleen Jaeger has been deeply inspired by the pharmacy industrys resilience and innovation The National Association of Chain Drug Stores has worked hand in hand with its membership to navigate these uncharted waters aggressively advocating for the removal of patient care barriers at all levels of government and with the media says Jaeger NACDS senior vice president of pharmacy care and patient advocacy and president of the NACDS Foundation Achieving key priorities has been rewarding especially CAMP HILL Pa Ensuring a seamless transition from pharmacy to the front end at Rite Aid Corp is a not only a core strategy for the company according to executive vice president and chief pharmacy officer Jocelyn Konrad its a strategy shes passionate about bringing to fruition Were working toward a future in which pharmacists are front and center for customers as they approach our pharmacies Konrad says adding that the company is eliminating barriers and making pharmacists accessible to support the health care needs of customers and support them DEERFIELD Ill Walgreens has experienced a dramatic increase in workload for the entire legal function during the pandemic says senior vice president and general counsel Elena Kraus That has meant work for the company has had to be prioritized as it is an essential business and its greatest priority is supporting customers and field teams and ensuring continuity of care As a legal team we needed to redirect our energies from business as usual to supporting the essential functions of the business with a focus on mitigating health partners while prioritizing the health of their store teams and customers Pharmacies are leveraging technology efficiencies of remote processing and other innovative strategies to ensure medications and care are provided to patients safely and appropriately she adds Looking beyond the pandemic patients would benefit from states removing operational barriers to patient care permanently The pandemic has touched every community Yet it also has allowed thought leaders and communities to appreciate the tremendous value of community pharmacies Rather than shying away pharmacies have stepped up across the country to serve their communities in this time of need demonstrating resilience leadership commitment and innovation Jaeger says Like our members at NACDS were and customers thriving And that means she adds every part of their experience whether they are coming into the store utilizing the drive through or prescription delivery or getting essential items through Instacart Everything Konrad emphasizes has to be aligned with that mission This crisis shows the passion of pharmacists Rite Aid has always viewed the role of the pharmacist as critical for a patients overall health and well being which is why Rite Aids new strategy centers on empowering pharmacists to be advocates of whole being health The COVID 19 pandemic in Konrads view has shined a spotlight opposing parties Weve shown that as a legal profession we can make better use of collaborative tools and technology to stay connected and continue to effectively meet the needs of our clients comments Kraus The industry will emerge stronger in coming years Kraus says she looks for ways to encourage the development of her legal team As general counsel she oversees the strategy and delivery of legal services to the organization She is responsible for the work of its attorneys and paraprofessionals in support of the goals of the business Im especially proud of my work to develop a really top notch legal team in the past four years she notes Theres a core team of people across the department who are so dedicated to our company their profession adapting to the new reality and approaching it with hope and optimism while building on the successes we have achieved to broaden scope of practice NACDS has been working diligently with its membership to help shape the next steps in the pandemic including accelerated access to forthcoming vaccines and treatments and how best to position the industry As part of these efforts the association developed a white paper on the critical role pharmacies will play in reopening America and how private public partnerships are essential to the health on the pharmacists value in the communities they serve When the pandemic strained our health care system pharmacists were available to support patients with their medication needs provided advice for challenges they were experiencing and provided personalized care to maintain customers health guiding them along the way and partnering with them as needed she says Additionally when the country needed a way to ramp up diagnostic testing pharmacists answered the call For instance Konrad cites the companys pharmacists embracing the opportunity to do more and utilizing their education and skills to support the crisis at scale This crisis she says really shows the importance of the pharmacy profession Most importantly it shows their passion for the care that they are uniquely positioned to provide in and each other It speaks so well of this department I am truly honored to lead this team and contribute to the way they work and how they care for each other We frequently get kudos from clients which tells me that others see this department as a strong collaborative partner She describes her management style as direct and supportive I view my role not solely as a manager of the process and the function but as a leader of the hard working and dedicated professionals who take pride in their work in support of Walgreens I tend to be a bit of a nurturer at work looking for ways to mentor support and encourage the of communities and local economies The recommendations fold in important lessons with an emphasis on the need for states and communities to proactively prepare which includes removing remaining barriers to care Community recovery efforts are now complicated by the recent unrest and civil disturbances increasing operational challenges The association will continue to work with all levels of government to effectuate change and the industry will adapt and emerge stronger than before in the coming years vows Jaeger As to the NACDS Foundation like other similar entities it is confronting challenges unlike any it has faced in the last 20 years Yet we continue to forge ahead prioritizing our research portfolio and measuring its success laser focused on identifying new and innovative ways to provide patient care she says the communities they serve every day Moving beyond the immediate crisis I hope to see an even more central role for pharmacists in our health care system Konrad is also passionate about Rite Aids Womens Leadership Network which she describes as having been an inspiring opportunity to share lessons across all levels of the organization on a number of topics that matter such as leadership diversity and balancing personal and professional life There are truly amazing women who are doing amazing things at all levels of our company and Im proud to support them however I can she says adding that the mission of the Womens Leadership Network is to support growth within all roles provide an open and trusting environment enabling and inspiring confidence and promoting health and wellness of the companys associates customers and communities development of my team I have been successful by building positive relationships with my colleagues business clients and legal colleagues alike based on trust respect and a sense of common purpose As she has gotten busier in her career she has had less time to spend with individual lawyers and paralegals in the organization She misses that daily interaction with the people in the trenches and tries to schedule some regular visits with her team at all levels of the department Fostering an environment that promotes and supports women leaders is an important goal and just makes good business sense she adds She personally believes that women bring a critical and unique perspective to the company and make it stronger more empathetic and more successful MMR June 22 2020 43