Leading Yourself First: Vet Empowered at VMG Congress 2025

Co-Founder Katie speaking at VMG Congress

Last week at VMG Congress, co-founder Katoe took to the stage to talk about something we’re incredibly passionate about at Vet Empowered: self-leadership.

Not the shiny, buzzwordy kind.The real, human, messy, transformative kind.

The kind that starts within.

Katie’s session, The Transformative Power of Self-Leadership, invited the audience to look inward - not to criticise themselves, but to lead themselves with clarity, compassion, and courage. To use the skills they're already using with their teams, and to strengthen them even further.

Drawing on science (like Self-Determination Theory and psychological safety research) and practical tools (like the STOP method, morning huddles, nervous system regulation, and end-of-day debriefs), Katie showed how we can stop waiting for confidence or motivation to magically appear - and start leading our internal teams on purpose.

Because here’s the truth:

Self-leadership isn’t about getting it "perfect."It’s about showing up anyway, listening in, creating a culture of psychological safety inside ourselves, and moving forward with our values at the helm.

Katie spoke about the voices we all carry - the busy ones, the scared ones, the perfectionist ones - and how we can meet those parts with curiosity rather than criticism. Instead of fighting against ourselves, we can learn to lead with ourselves.

It was real, raw, science-backed, and hope-filled. Exactly what self-leadership needs to be. Plus the important reminder that help is encouraged and celebrated, no successful (self) leader succeeds alone.

Thank you to everyone who showed up, listened in, and reflected so deeply. You are the CEO of your inner team - and your team is ready to be led by someone who cares.

Here’s to building a life (and leadership style) you’re proud of - inside and out.

Thank you so much to the whole team at The Veterinary Management Group for a wonderful event.