Lauren Chalwell

On firing difficult clients, protecting your team, and why 2026 is the year we stop hiding behind posters and start actually leading. It's R U OK Day. You've ordered the cupcakes. The poster in the tearoom has a sunrise on it. Someone has brought in fairy lights. And somewhere in your clinic, a team member is holding back tears after a client swore at them over a vaccination bill- smiling through it because that's what you do. If that image makes you uncomfortable, good. It should. ...

Why wages feel confusing in veterinary medicine — and how clinics can build fair, sustainable pay structures Across the veterinary industry, conversations about wages are becoming increasingly common — and increasingly complex. Clinic owners are navigating rising operational costs, recruitment pressures and staff expectations for higher pay, while many veterinary professionals feel uncertain about how wage increases are determined or why their salary doesn’t always match what they hear...

Why technical brilliance doesn’t always translate to great leadership in veterinary practice Veterinary medicine is a profession built on skill, dedication and years of technical training. From the moment someone enters the industry — whether as a vet or nurse — they are taught how to diagnose, treat, operate and care for patients. What we don’t often teach is how to lead people. And yet, every day across the industry, talented clinicians are promoted into leadership roles simply because they...