Award-winning leaders in veterinary personal development, wellbeing and coaching.
hello@vetempowered.com
Hello, I'm Katie
Dr. Katie Ford BVSc(Hons) CertAVP(SAM) PGCert MSc FRCVS
Vet Empowered Co-Founder
Qualified CMI Level 7 Somatic Trauma-Informed Coach & Leader
Masters Degree in Emotional Wellbeing
Mental Wellbeing Practitioner
Katie is an experienced small animal veterinary surgeon who has become a passionate coach and vetmed Key Opinion Leader, recognised with the RCVS Inspiration Award in 2023, and an RCVS Fellowship in 2025. After her own journey through imposterism and burnout to finding a love for her work again, she began authentically sharing her story online, trained as a coach, and lovingly co-founded Vet Empowered in 2020. Now much of her time is spent delivering workshops, crafting training programmes, and speaking from the heart as a veterinary profession advocate, genuinely committed to creating positive change by speaking up on the topics that matter most with science-backed, compassionate solutions. As a global keynote speaker, published author, and mentor, she meets everyone exactly where they are, helping them discover fulfilment and reconnect with their true worth beyond any job title.
1:1 Coaching
Katie has very limited 1:1 availability and usually has a waiting list system in place.
Signature Programme Coach
Katie is one of the head coaches in the Vet Empowered Signature Programme, creating the programme with Claire in 2020. You will have opportunity to be coached by Katie if you join!
Available for:
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Team Workshops
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Speaking
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Consulting
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Leadership Training
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KOL work
About
Katie Ford is the kind of person who gets genuinely excited about helping veterinary professionals rediscover their sparkle and watching them create their own meaningful impact. Living in beautiful Saddleworth just outside Manchester with her partner and two ridiculously fluffy cats, Katie's journey from burned-out vet to passionate coach and keynote speaker is one of authentic transformation that she loves sharing with warmth, honesty and wisdom.
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After graduating from Liverpool University in 2012 and earning her RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Internal Medicine in 2016, Katie found herself trapped in the perfectionism cycle that affects so many in the veterinary profession. Despite external achievements, she was internally battling imposter thoughts, isolating herself, working impossibly long hours, and chasing a happiness that always seemed just out of reach. Her brain had become expert at finding everything that went wrong, however tiny, and torturing her with it.
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The good news? Life completely transformed when Katie decided she deserved better. Through genuine support, self-work, understanding her emotions, and recognising her personal value, her life in practice changed. She loved her work again, and went from dreading Mondays to approaching them with a compassionate, growth-based mindset. She began sharing her story online as @katiefordvet, growing an audience of over 22,000, and quickly she discovered a passion for helping others navigate the same journey. This led her to train as a coach in 2016, from there further training in multiple modalities and completing a Masters Degree in Emotional Wellbeing, most recently completing her CMI Level 7 qualification in trauma-informed and somatic coaching and leadership.
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In 2020, Katie co-founded Vet Empowered with fellow veterinary surgeon Claire Grigson, creating a non-judgemental, encouraging space for veterinary professionals to reconnect with their true worth beyond their job titles. Outside of Vet Empowered, Katie works 1:1 with veterinary entrepreneurs, supporting them in making their own meaningful impact within the profession. What started as sharing her story online has grown into a movement, and it remains a platform where she kindly champions the people of the profession, regardless of role of job title.
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Katie's genuine, authentic and wise approach has taken her to stages across the globe: from Cambridge University to flying out to Canada, and speaking at every major UK veterinary conference. Whether she's delivering keynote speeches or facilitating workshops, Katie meets people exactly where they are, helping everyone from students to CEOs discover fulfilment and recognise their inherent value.
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A published author of the "To an amazing vet" book series, Katie has also been involved in various initiatives including organising a social media conference VETstagram, supporting financial wellbeing for professionals at VetYou, and organising Vetworking sessions. Her dedication to the veterinary community was recognised in 2023 when she received the RCVS Inspiration Award, followed by an RCVS Fellowship in 2025 for her meritorious contributions to the profession. She was also voted the winner of the Bright Minds Wellness Champion 2024, with over 2000 votes.
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Katie's mission remains beautifully simple: to help people reconnect with themselves, the real them, and discover that they're valuable and unique exactly as they are. If you're reading this, she'd want you to know that includes you too.
Get to know Katie
We asked:
What area(s) of coaching do you most enjoy working with clients on?
"I became known for talking about the imposter phenomenon, and helping people overcome that remains a passion of mine. Nobody is an imposter, they're just listening to outdated pressures and internalised opinions of others. I genuinely love all areas of coaching, but the best moments are when people take their power back and see what they can do and believe in themselves!"
What do you love most about Vet Empowered?
"Vet Empowered doesn't feel like work to me - it is a mission. I love the team, I love our community and I love that we are being the change. I am biased, but it is truly special. I can hand on heart say we practice what we preach, and work in integrity."
What do you love most about the veterinary profession?
"The people - the most incredible group of humans you could wish to meet"
What are your favourite hobbies or interests outside of work?
"Getting outside, exploring new places, the gym (and the spa!). Listening to podcasts, finding new coffee spots and a vintage bargain. *Chef's kiss*!"
Do you have a favourite quote, mantra, or piece of advice that guides you?
"This is very hard because I love a quote, but for now I'd say it's this:
The odds of you being born are 1 in 400 trillion, you're already more than enough and you can keep growing."
What would you say to someone who's considering coaching but is on the fence about it?
"Follow that curiosity, and dare to take the next step. Book the discovery call, ask the questions and trust that intuition. You don't know if you don't try."
What's one fun or surprising fact about you that people might not expect?
"I jumped out a plane over NASA, and it was the most terrifying but brilliant thing I ever did!"
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In one sentence, how would you complete this: "I love helping veterinary professionals to..."
"Reconnect with themselves"