Daniella Dos Santos, Director of Professional Culture for IVC Evidensia, graduated in 2012 from the Royal Veterinary College and has practised clinically in several sites across the south of the UK. She was President of the BVA in 2019-2020, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. Daniella was the recipient on the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the animal welfare charity SPANA and the PetPlan Charitable Trust.
Please summarise your journey/biography.
I wanted to be a vet since I was about four or five, but things happen in life and my route wasn’t that straightforward. I grew up in a single-parent family in central London, where no one had been to university.
I got brilliant GCSE grades, but I didn’t quite get the A-level grades. It took me five attempts to get into Royal Veterinary College, including doing a separate degree, and I graduated in 2012 aged 27. After leaving, I went into a small animal private practice doing my own out-of-hours. I loved it and it was the perfect first job for me. I left because I wanted to increase my exotics case load and, while doing that, I answered what seemed to be a boring advert for the BVA looking for someone to sit on the ethics and welfare committee. I was the youngest person there and felt completely overwhelmed, but it started me getting involved in the bigger picture around veterinary medicine. I found I enjoyed it, became the Chair and then became BVA Junior Vice President – almost by accident. I wasn’t going to apply and was going to nominate a man, but my partner got me to read the advert again. I ticked every requirement they were looking for – first opinion vet, welfare background, understanding of veterinary politics, a millennial and they were encouraging applications from women – so I applied and somehow got it. That led on to becoming BVA President during Covid, which was difficult but the biggest honour of my life. Then I went back into practice and from there I had the opportunity to take on this exciting new role of UK Director of Professional Culture at IVC Evidensia.
Describe your typical day from waking to sleeping.
There’s no such thing, and that’s how I like it! I’ll have projects – like our current flexible working policy – I’m working on, but I have no idea what’s coming round the corner. I might be going on practice visits, talking to staff and understanding what they’re thinking. So, it’s very diverse, but it’s all focused on how we might make the workplace better.
Despite the variety and the unknowns, though, I do need to have a structure to my day. I’m not particularly an early morning or a late evening person, but what I do need is a cut-off point. If I start at 8am, I’m not going to still be working at 8pm. Or if I am going to be working at 10pm, don’t expect me to do anything significant in the morning. I work best when I balance my work hours and make time for what I enjoy doing outside work.
How would you describe yourself in a sentence?
Honest, empathetic and values driven.
How would others describe you in a sentence?
I hope others would see me as approachable, honest and upfront.
“Leadership is not about being authoritarian, it’s about being approachable so you can find a way forward.”
Daniella Dos Santos
What has been your top success and what have you learned from this?
It would be being BVA President during Covid as it made the biggest impact on the profession. It was the most exhausting and challenging year of my life. I felt like I had the whole profession on my shoulders. I had the challenge of ensuring my actions kept people safe, upholding animal welfare and the food supply chain and the impact it might have on businesses. It was a challenge to balance in a fast-paced, uncertain environment, but I was honest, open, transparent and available. I did Sunday webinars every weekend and I knew hearing me explain where we were was helpful to people in a really isolating time. But during my tenure I was also able to make inroads with regards to diversity, inclusion and discrimination, and was part of developing good veterinary workplaces. I came out of it feeling I’d made a difference to all our members. My biggest takeaway from it is that people matter, and everyone responds differently to stressful circumstances. You must adjust your approach and honesty is the best thing a leader can have. Leadership is not about being authoritarian, it’s about being approachable so you can find a way forward. It’s led to my job now. I love animals, but I love people more.
What has been your biggest challenge, setback or failure and how have you overcome it?
My road to vet school was the biggest challenge I’ve had. My identity as a child and young adult was all wrapped up in being a vet. Then, when I didn’t quite get the results I needed, the rug was pulled from under me. It took five attempts and a whole separate degree to get in and that was a real challenge. In hindsight, it was both the worst and best thing that could have happened to me. I went into vet school with a different outlook on life, and that helped me deal with unexpected challenges, because I knew nothing ever goes to plan. It also taught me that it’s okay to be mediocre. In vet school there is a perception of pressure to get the highest grades and be the best. I just wanted to do okay! Starting your vet career without that competitive drive reduces your stress levels.
What compromises have you had to make and what, if anything, could have helped?
During Covid I got myself into a situation where I was trying to protect everyone from the stresses. I thought leadership was about taking all the responsibility and I wouldn’t delegate. It severely impacted my mental health and I needed to get help. I’ve learned you absolutely need to delegate when the pressure is on and that’s made my life much easier, both professionally and personally.
What advice would you have given to your younger self, that you would now give to others wanting to follow your path?
Don’t take yourself too seriously. Don’t try to be anyone you’re not. And always push doors open even if you’re not sure you want to go through it. You never know where it will lead, and you lose potential opportunities.
If you’d told me when I went to vet school that I’d be BVA President and UK Director of Professional Culture for IVC Evidensia, I would have laughed. My plan was getting my exotics certificate and being a happy GP vet. So, never assume you know what you want.
I couldn’t have got where I am today without…
My first bosses, Peter Thomas and Tim Ferens, are the reason my career has ended up where it has. They were phenomenal. They showed me what it was to be a compassionate, brilliant, all-round GP vet while supplying me with the support I needed to flourish. No question was ever too stupid, and they were there to help move me on from mistakes. I was doing OOH within eight weeks, and I never felt alone. When I moved on for my exotics, another vet, Kate Everett, was a real inspiration. She instilled my passion for animal welfare with the thought that if I could teach one tortoise owner how to look after it properly, it got 60 years of a good life.
What are your three top likes?
Disney. Dog walks. Chocolate.
What are your three top dislikes?
Cinnamon. Arrogance. Mopping the floor.
What is the most helpful book you’ve read and why?
Start with Why by Simon Sinek. I’m not usually one for self-help books, but it made me realise what mattered to me and especially when it came to determining what choices to make, both in a professional and personal capacity.
Many thanks to Daniella for sharing her story to inspire veterinary women to aspire and grow into their full
career potential.
If you would like to share your story please get in touch at info@veterinarywoman.co.uk
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