In this episode, I sit down with Claire Pickens, EMBA, CVPM: certified veterinary practice manager, entrepreneur, and business strategist with over 30 years in animal health. Claire has helped countless veterinary owners turn big ideas into bank-ready business plans, while leading operations across the country with expertise in leadership, HR, and practice management.

We dive into what it really takes to shift from managing someone else’s playbook to writing your own as an owner. From opening a practice before ever managing one, to defining values that hold steady through recessions and pandemics, Claire shares candid lessons, practical strategies, and the people-first approach that’s guided her success.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why people, not KPIs, are the only true leading indicator

• How to coach to behaviors and outcomes, not just metrics

• The surprising transferable skills from coaching and practice

• What every aspiring owner should study: HR, marketing, and IT basics

• How to define your values before day one and use them to guide tough calls

Connect with Claire Pickens:🔗 Website: www.smallbusiness-dreams.com🔗 LinkedIn: Claire Pickens, CVPM

🎧 Subscribe to Leading Veterinary Teams On Air for real talk, tactical tools, and conversations that challenge the old-school way of leading in vet med.

In this episode, I sit down with Kate Boatright, VMD: veterinarian, speaker, writer, and author of Small Animal Veterinary Mentorship Manual. With over a decade in practice, Dr. Boatright has become a leading voice on creating mentorship that works, not just for new grads, but for every role in the hospital.

We dive into why mentorship is more than onboarding or skills training, how to build a culture of support across the whole team, and what both mentors and mentees can do to make the relationship successful. From navigating burnout as a mentor to setting clear expectations from day one, Dr. Boatright shares practical tools and candid advice to make mentorship a lasting part of veterinary culture.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why mentorship should extend beyond new graduates to every hospital role

• How to set clear expectations that prevent disappointment and turnover

• The shared responsibilities of mentors and mentees

• How hospital leaders can build mentorship into culture, not just contracts

• The difference between training and mentorship, and why it matters

Connect with Dr. Kate Boatright:🔗 Website: www.writetheboat.com🔗 LinkedIn: Kate Boatright, VMD🔗 Instagram: @writetheboat

🎧 Subscribe to Leading Veterinary Teams On Air for real talk, tactical tools, and conversations that challenge the old-school way of leading in vet med.

In this episode, I sit down with Alexandre Contreras, Vet Tech, Innovator, and Entrepreneur, whose path in veterinary medicine began with a childhood fascination and evolved into a career defined by creativity, resilience, and service.

From working in the kennels to launching his own dog massage therapy service, Dogapy, Alexandre has built a career that blends hands-on animal care with entrepreneurial spirit.

He’s the inventor of a pet nail trimming tool, Klip Trio, and the founder of PetTrio Charity, which supports animal welfare and educational initiatives in underserved communities.

In this episode we dive into how persistence and leadership have shaped his journey, the challenges and rewards of bringing big ideas to life, and how he balances professional goals with the responsibilities of being a single father.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

- How Alexandre grew from kennel work to launching multiple ventures in vet med

- The origin story behind his innovative pet nail trimming tool - KlipTrio

- How PetTrio Charity is creating opportunities for education and outreach

- The leadership lessons and mindset shifts that fuel his success

Connect with Alexandre:

www.kliptrio.com

www.pettriocharity.org

instagram.com/kliptrio

instragram.com/pettriocharity

www.linkedin.com/in/dogapy

🎧 Subscribe to Leading Veterinary Teams On Air for real talk, tactical tools, and conversations that challenge the old school way of leading in vet med.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Amber Parks—a veterinarian, speaker, and certified stress and burnout coach—to explore the deeper layers of burnout in veterinary medicine. Amber shares her own journey through burnout, including her decision to leave general practice for relief work, only to discover that the real work was internal.

We dig into the misconceptions around burnout (spoiler: it’s not just about changing jobs), why so many of us think relief work is the solution, and how shifting her relationship to stress changed everything. Today, Dr. Parks supports veterinary professionals in identifying the root causes of burnout and building lives that actually feel sustainable.

We Talk About:
💥 Amber’s personal experience with burnout in general practice
🧠 Why relief work didn’t fix the problem
🔍 The deeper personal work burnout recovery requires
🛠️ How stress management, mindset, and coaching became her turning point
🫂 Why seeking support isn’t weakness—it’s strategy

If you’ve ever thought, “Maybe relief work will fix everything,” this episode is for you.

Links & Resources:
Connect with Dr. Amber Parks on Instagram: @the_stress_and_burnout_coach

What if branding wasn’t about being loud, but about being real?In this episode, I sit down with Danielle K Lambert, founder of The Snout Group and veterinary branding queen of no BS, for a straight-up conversation about what it actually takes to build a brand, a voice, and a leadership presence that matters.This isn’t a fluff piece about colors and logos. We’re talking about:- The difference between confidence and ego in leadership- Why people-pleasing waters down your message—and your mission- How to build a brand that walks the talk (not just lipstick on a pig)- What to do when it feels like no one’s watching—but you’re still showing up- The myth of overnight success and the power of consistencyand Personal lessons we’ve learned the hard way about visibility, boundaries, and staying true to yourselfWhether you’re leading a hospital, growing a platform, or figuring out how to be seen without losing yourself, this conversation is packed with honesty, clarity, and permission to do it differently.🎧 Subscribe to Leading Veterinary Teams On Air for real talk, tactical tools, and the kind of leadership convos you won’t find in a management textbook.

When trust breaks down between leadership and the team, everything gets harder—communication, culture, even patient care.In this episode, I sit down with Lynn Blake, CVT, CVBL, FFCP—hospital manager, radically supportive leader, and the queen of “little treat culture”—to talk about what the trust gap really looks like in vet med and how to begin rebuilding it.We dig into:How to recognize when your team doesn’t trust leadership (it’s not always loud)Why micromanagement and fear-based leadership keep teams stuckHow identity, inclusion, and psychological safety play a role in team dynamicsSmall, actionable ways to start earning trust back—even if you feel like you’ve lost itThis conversation is packed with honesty, practical insight, and a lot of heart. If you’re in a leadership role—or want to be—this one’s for you.🎧 Subscribe to Leading Veterinary Teams On Air for real talk, tactical tools, and conversations that challenge the old school way of leading in vet med.

We’re back! In this solo kickoff episode, Suzanne shares where she’s been, what she’s been building behind the scenes, and what to expect from Season 2 of Leading Veterinary Teams (LVT) On Air. From technician utilization to trust-building and leadership that actually works, this season is about showing up real, messy, and ready to lead. Episodes drop every second and fourth Tuesday—hit follow and let’s get to work.