b'PROFILEOLLY KINGOlly King is an equine and small animal vet and founder of the Meraki Initiative. Meraki brings the veterinary community together to put teams and cultures at the heart of a new, modern approach to recruitment. On a mission to accelerate change and improve retention, Olly shares how his own unmet career expectations inspired him to drive change on a profession-wide scaleCareer summary:2000 - 2004: Biochemistry degree, University of Bristol, with a year sabbatical studying Marine Science at the University of Otago.2004 - 2008: Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Glasgow.2008 - 2010: Small animal and equine practice, Nottinghamshire.2010 - 2011: Equine hospital-based internship, Yorkshire. Certificate in Equine Practice.2012 - 2014: Travel and worked in equine clinics on the Gold Coast, Adelaide and Singapore Turf Club.2014 - 2015: Equine and small animal locum around the UK.On paper, as a white male with two equine certificates myWhat is the biggest challenge to staying career should have been easy,passionate in your veterinary career youve overcome, and how did you yet I found myself planning myapproach it?exit from the profession. In 2018 I was languishing, felt undervalued and demoralised by unmet career 2015 - 2018: Hospital ambulatoryexpectations. On paper, as a white male equine vet, Staffordshire. Certificate inwith two equine certificates my career Diagnostic Imaging. should have been easy, yet I found myself planning my exit from the profession. I 2019: General practice ambulatorywas frustrated by negative workplace equine vet, Devon. experiences, echoing others in surveys of 2020: ongoing: Part-time and locumthe profession, and by the laissez-faire small animal GP and ECC veterinarian,approach to leadership fuelling the Devon. retention crisis. 2021 - 2023: ILM Level 7 Executive andSetting about doing something about Senior Leader Coaching and Mentoring,it, the goal was to showcase great University of West of England. veterinary workplaces where people love to work to inspire others. I wanted to2022 - ongoing: Launch of The Merakihelp the workforce better navigate their Initiative, a professional networkingcareer and make it easier for people to talent engagement platform. find the best EMS placements, jobs and www.inspiredvet.co.uk29'