“Snowflakes” or is it Cool Determination? What The Next Generation of Veterinary Leaders Are Doing Differently

The young vet paused for a moment and said quietly, "Pets take care of us in our times of crisis — it's a privilege to take care of them in theirs."

That line has stayed with me.

We've recently expanded the personal coaching we give members of our courses and over the past few weeks, I've had call after call with vets and the same desire comes up as a constant theme: they all want to rebuild trust in the profession. They see the same cracks in the system that many have felt: the decline in public confidence, the growing inaccessibility of care, and the weight of a mental health crisis in the ranks.

They're not blind to the reasons. Corporate monopolies that seem to put numbers before ethics. Emergency hospitals closing their doors for days at a time. Economic euthanasia  a routine reality. Workplaces where talented people are ground down by unnecessary stress, left unsupported, or driven out.

But the real story is not about what's broken. It's about the people determined to fix it.

A Different Kind of Leader

Bucking the tired stereotype that younger vets don't want to work hard, these leaders are mostly just a few years out of vet school. They aren't willing to burn themselves out for the job, but they absolutely understand the meaning of service.

They still know that veterinary medicine is more than just a career. It's a vocation. A calling. A privilege. But it must be sustainable if people are to stay in it.

They're building clinics that are ethical, accessible, and deeply human. Places where a nine-month-old kitten with a treatable problem doesn't end up on a euthanasia table because of cost or lack of access. Places where staff are valued as more than a number, and where growth is nurtured, not forced through sink-or-swim survival.

They're not "snowflakes". They just believe in better and have the determination to light a fire and turn this lazy trope to vapour.

Care That's Built on Trust

These new leaders want to change not just what care is delivered, but how it's delivered.

They talk about transparency: showing clients the "why" behind costs and decisions, inviting questions, and being open about the realities of running a viable business. They see informed consent not as a formality, but as a shared understanding built on empathy and clear communication. They’re co-pilots on the health care journey, not gods in white jackets. 

They want their clinics to be part of a network, not a fortress. To share knowledge, offer continuing education, and break down the old gatekeeping culture. They understand that collaboration across practices isn't a threat. It's a path to better medicine for everyone.

A Blank Canvas for Change

One of them described her new clinic as a blank canvas: a space where different people, skills, and personalities come together to create something meaningful.

It's more than a metaphor. In her mind, the building itself should lower anxiety, not raise it. Calm, organised, welcoming. The kind of place that helps an owner breathe a little easier on one of the worst days of their life.

That's the kind of detail these leaders think about. Because they know the environment we create (physically, culturally, emotionally) shapes the medicine we're able to deliver.

The Pendulum Swing

It feels like a pendulum is swinging back.

After years of a slow erosion in both independent practice ownership and public trust (causality rather than correlation we reckon), a new wave of leaders is showing that veterinary care can be personal again. That it can be rooted in ethics as well as excellence. That staff wellbeing and patient outcomes are linked, and that looking after people is part of looking after pets.

But we know that good intentions alone aren't enough.

Turning the dream into reality requires a clear vision. A smart strategy to cut through, a strong sense of purpose unifying the team, and the leadership skills to bring it together and keep it together. It means knowing how to build a healthy, engaged team culture, how to manage performance without losing trust, and how to create a workplace where great care for clients and pets is the natural outcome of how the practice runs.

That's where we come in. At the Veterinary Leadership Academy, we work side by side with these leaders to develop their remarkable vision, sharpen their unique strategy, and train them in the modern leadership skills needed to succeed. We help them create the kind of workplaces they've imagined: places where staff thrive, clients feel valued, and pets receive the right care. 

If you're ready to be part of this movement (to restore trust, serve your community, and lead a thriving, healthy team) we'd love to support you.

Drop me a line at oliver@vetxinternational.com and let's talk about the change you want to create.