Louise began her veterinary career in 2001, qualified as an RVN in 2005, and progressed through clinical and leadership roles. Now Hospital Lead at Blue Cross’s flagship hospital and a VMG board director, she’s passionate about team development, operational excellence, and veterinary leadership.
Please give a brief summary of your career path so far:
I started my first job in veterinary in 2001 at a small private practice in South London. I’d always been an animal lover and had done my work experience at a vet practice so the thought of working as a vet or vet nurse had always been in the back of my mind. I qualified as a RVN in 2005.
I joined Blue Cross in 2006 as a night nurse – the primary driver was to help my mum care for my father and this gave me the flexibility to do so. I went back into private practice when an opportunity to take on a head nurse position at my first practice arose. However, I missed charity work and rejoined Blue Cross in 2010.
In 2015 I suffered an injury and needed to step away from nursing so I joined the volunteer management team, and this is where my leadership journey really began. In 2017 I became practice manager of one of the branches culminating in winning Petplan Practice Manger of the year and the hospital winning an internal team of the year prize. In 2022 I became the hospital lead at our 24hr flagship hospital in London Victoria becoming the first veterinary nurse in Blue Cross’s history to take on the role. In 2024 I became a director on the VMG board.
“Don’t be afraid to make a mistake and own them when you do. It’s ok – that’s how you learn”
What is it about your work that enthuses you and brings you satisfaction?
I very much enjoy the operational aspect of my job and I love nothing more than getting away from my desk and being with the team! I get energy from developing and supporting them, watching them succeed and grow.
Continuously improving the hospital working environment, operational efficiencies and experience for the clients brings me job satisfaction.
Being involved in various internal and external groups allows me to widen my professional network and contacts and has given me exposure to other (internal) directorates and organisations. In turn this has allowed me to share my experience and skills as a veterinary leader.
What is the biggest challenge to staying passionate in your veterinary career you’ve overcome, and how did you approach it?
When I entered the veterinary industry, I assumed my career could only go in one direction and there was a ceiling as to what I could achieve, I was very wrong! I was given opportunities within Blue Cross to develop leadership skills and was encouraged to think about what I wanted to achieve, with no barriers put in my place, only support and encouragement. This was so important to me after I sustained my back injury.
Being in an organisation that wants to develop you is fantastic, but I learnt that I also needed to look for opportunities and push myself out of my comfort zone.
What advice can you share with others embarking on similar paths about finding fulfilment in their veterinary career?
- Expose yourself to as much experience as you can.
- Give things a go – try new things… What is the worst that can happen?!
- Network and get to know other areas – don’t pigeonhole yourself.
- Remember you don’t know what you don’t know!
- Be courageous.
- Be passionate about supporting and driving the organisation in the direction they are going.
- Be in positions that you can influence change.
- Don’t be afraid to make a mistake and own them when you do. It’s ok – that’s how you learn.
- Be your authentic self.
What best sums up your approach to keeping yourself and your team motivated and engaged within veterinary careers?
I ensure the team have a good work/life balance and have input in continuously improving how we work and giving them opportunities to grow both in their clinical and non-clinical skills.
For me seeing the hospital hit targets is very motivating but also seeing the team want to achieve, especially during tough times.
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