Could you introduce yourself to our members?
I’m Helen, a coach and facilitator. I specialise in women’s leadership, working parents and teams. My background is working in marketing for animal health and veterinary companies including MSD Animal Health and IVC Evidensia. I live with my husband James and kids, Harry and Eva in Milton Keynes. I’m also dog mum to two mad spaniels, Stella and Milly.
Tell us a bit about your day job and what you find most rewarding?
I love the variety in my job. One day I’ll be running a workshop on domestic balance and mental load, the next I’ll be interviewing team members to help build trust in a team, and the next I’ll be working with 1-2-1 coaching clients. My heartland is supporting women to be intentional about what they want from their life and career, rather than just sleepwalking into the societal norms that surround us.
Why did you volunteer to join the VMG board and how are you finding the role?
In my experience, leaders aren’t well supported in the veterinary space. The focus is on clinical (which is if course deeply important) but, for the profession to really thrive, we need better support, discussion and training about what it means to be a good leader, as well as a good clinician. I really believe in the VMG’s mission and values and hope that my combination of marketing and coaching skills can make a valuable contribution to a profession I care deeply about.
What does leadership mean to you?
To inspire and empower, facilitating the creation of more leaders.
What one piece of advice would you give to members looking to develop their leadership skills? (aside from studying for the VMG’s qualifications, of course!)
Give yourself time to think. I’m a huge advocate for coaching (of course!) but, if that’s beyond your means, find a thinking partner and carve out space to reflect on your own values and personal leadership style, then repay the favour by listening to the other person too. With a never ending to-do list this can be easy to bypass, but it’s a necessity not a luxury in my view.
What do you enjoy doing outside work?
My happy place is walking my dogs in the woods. A pub lunch or barbeque (depending on the season!) with friends and family also lights me up. I’ll also go to the gym a couple of times a week and love reading. My guilty pleasure is watching property programmes on the telly!
Tell us something about you that may surprise us!
I used to be a bit of an adrenaline junkie and have done skydiving, a parachute jump, bungy jumping and hang gliding before. Nowadays I’m a total wimp which is why that might be a surprise!
