Our series on “Champions for Change” features people of any gender in any role who are making a difference and creating positive change for women in the veterinary sector – enabling aspirations, inspiring and supporting others to grow and follow their passions, and empowering our community.
Nada Al Balushi is the founder and CEO of the Muscat Veterinary Center and the Muscat Grooming Center in Seeb, Oman. Her vision is to lead a revolution in animal care in Oman and inspire women like herself to go above and beyond. Showcasing her dedication to advancing the veterinary profession, Nada has been awarded the CEO of the Year award in the Middle East Health category at the Fortuna Global Excellence Awards in Dubai and nominated as Future Female Leader of the Year. Nada is deeply committed to community outreach, advocating for responsible pet ownership in educational institutions and collaborating to empower veterinary professionals in the community. She provides training and experience for vet students from outside Oman and is a frequent speaker at seminars on managing veterinary businesses, sharing insights and strategies to help others succeed.
Read on as Nada shares more about how she is breaking gender barriers and overcoming significant societal challenges to empower women in the veterinary industry:
I am a licensed veterinary technologist (vet tech) and Certified Veterinary Business Leader (CVBL). My journey began in the Veterinary-Histopathology teaching laboratory at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman (SQU), where I worked as a vet tech before pursuing my dream of founding my own veterinary clinic.
In December 2016, I established the Muscat Veterinary Center, in Seeb, Oman, transitioning from a vet tech role to practice manager despite having no prior business experience. In 2023, I earned a PgCert in Veterinary Business Management (VBM) from the University of Liverpool and co-founded the Muscat Grooming Center. I also earned a CVBL certificate from the NAVC.
I actively advocate for responsible pet ownership through my “Pawsitively Responsible” workshops and address mental health awareness for veterinarians. I enjoy training veterinary students and speak at seminars on managing veterinary businesses. I serve on the advisory board of the Veterinary Technology Program at SQU, volunteer as an advisor for stray animal control, and am currently pursuing an MBA.
My work has been recognized locally and internationally, including features in magazines, newspapers, and radio shows. I received the CEO of the Year award in the Middle East Health category at the Fortuna Global Excellence Awards in Dubai and was nominated as Future Female Leader of the Year in Vienna, Austria.
Please summarise how you are working towards change in the veterinary professions and why do you feel this is important?:
I am implementing positive change in the veterinary community by:
- Empowering women in the veterinary field: I enjoy talking to undergraduate vet students about my journey and how I achieved what I have today. I involve them in my projects, events and networking opportunities. I ensure that I have a team of women beside me to break barriers and empower Omani women (both vets and non-vets) to participate and ensure they are heard and seen in all the right ways.
- Advocating for responsible pet ownership: I enjoy conducting workshops for children and communities to educate about pet ownership and address stigma around pets, especially dogs. I have appeared on multiple radio shows discussing this issue, and while it has stirred some controversy, I am proud to say that my voice was heard, and at least one or two people were interested in learning how to be kind to animals. I am happy to have changed some minds on animal welfare.
- Supporting veterinary professionals: Through mental health workshops, I realized that many veterinarians themselves didn’t understand how the industry had impacted their mental health, and that it’s okay to feel tired and want a break. I’ve reached out to many colleagues, offering guidance on leading veterinary teams in a healthy way.
- Advancing veterinary education: By training veterinary students locally and internationally and serving on the advisory board of the Veterinary Technology Program at Sultan Qaboos University, I help shape the next generation of veterinary professionals. I try my best to support any student who wants to learn more.
I feel it is important because it is never easy, and sometimes it only takes one success story to motivate and inspire another individual to achieve greatness. You never know who you will help shine!
How do you feel this is making a difference?
I believe my efforts are truly making a positive change. By sharing my journey, I hope to inspire others, especially women in the veterinary field, to break barriers and realize their potential. Through my advocacy for responsible pet ownership and reducing stigma around pets, I’m helping foster a more compassionate and understanding community. Addressing mental health and business management for veterinary professionals is my way of improving well-being and sustainability within our field. Mentoring students and contributing to veterinary education allows me to prepare the next generation of professionals. Additionally, founding and managing successful veterinary and grooming centers set a benchmark for innovation and excellence. I truly feel these efforts are creating a ripple effect, advancing both animal welfare and the veterinary community.
What motivated you to want to change things?
My journey from being a shy introvert to becoming a visionary leader has inspired me to help others break out of their comfort zones, overcome obstacles, and realize their potential, ultimately contributing to a more compassionate veterinary community.
Ultimately, my passion for animals and love for the veterinary field motivated me to want to change things. More importantly, as a mother of two incredible girls, I want them to know that the sky is the limit. I want them to look at me and know that if I can do it, they can too! I know they will grow up strong, independent, and kind—toward both animals and people.
How have you encouraged other people to get on board with your ideas?
I have been able to convince many decision-makers from the Ministry of Agriculture, industry leaders, and other veterinarians to contribute more to the animal community and improve animal welfare in my country. The job is not done yet, but I am seeing small initiatives taking place. It will be a long journey, but it is definitely worth it.
What are the biggest challenges you have encountered in this journey and how have you overcome them?
One of my biggest personal challenges was stepping out of my comfort zone as someone who was shy and avoided public interaction, especially with men. I overcame this by channelling my love for animals and passion for change. Over time, I built confidence pushing myself into leadership roles, public speaking, and community engagement.
Convincing my family that I was serious about my career and my decision to leave a stable job to venture into business was a significant challenge. The veterinary and animal industry in Oman has low animal welfare standards and few ethical rights for pets, making my decision difficult for them to accept. I overcame this by demonstrating my dedication, working tirelessly to establish successful businesses, and proving that my vision could create meaningful change.
Founding Muscat Veterinary Center and later Muscat Grooming Center required navigating a competitive industry to establish credibility. I overcame this by providing high-quality services, building a strong reputation, and constantly innovating to set my businesses apart.
Balancing the demands of running a business with community outreach and advocacy has been a challenge. I manage this through strategic time management and prioritizing initiatives that align with my long-term vision.
Addressing stigma and misconceptions and changing cultural perceptions about pets, particularly dogs, required persistence and collaboration. I tackled this by creating educational workshops like the “Pawsitively Responsible” initiative and promoting awareness through schools and public events.
As a woman striving for leadership, I faced societal challenges and biases. I overcame these to break gender barriers in leadership by focusing on my goals, gaining certifications, building expertise, and proving my capabilities through results and recognition, such as receiving international awards.
What has most helped and motivated you along the way?
I would not have come this far without my family! Seeing their support, celebrating each milestone and achievement with them is enough to keep me going through the hardships and challenges of this journey.
What is the best advice you’ve been given, or that you would give to someone else, about driving positive change?
Stand firm in what you believe in! The only way out is through. It can feel lonely when you’re advocating for a cause no one else understands or believes in, but surround yourself with the right crowd, and you will make it through.
What are your next steps to continue creating change for the better?
I am still working on promoting further change. I am currently developing support groups with mental health experts to address grieving pet owners, vets in need of support, and animal lovers who just want to share their journeys. I am also exploring ways to improve animal welfare standards in my country and want to be involved with more international organizations to help achieve this.
In honour of International Women’s Day on March 8th, 2025, we assembled a collection of ‘Champions for Change’ profiles into a free eBook. Explore exclusive stories highlighting inspirational figures driving positive change for women in veterinary.
Our thanks to Nada for sharing her inspiring story of how she is championing change. If you would like to nominate a Champion for Change or share your story, please let us know.
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