Joyful. Curious. Engaged.
These are the words the Veterinary Leadership Institute (VLI) board and facilitators used to describe their experience of the 2025 Veterinary Leadership Experience (VLE). They’re more than just emotions, they reflect met needs, as described in the Nonviolent Communication (NVC) model, which emphasizes identifying and meeting universal human needs through empathetic listening and honest expression. By naming emotions and needs (met or unmet), the NVC model enhances self-awareness, allowing us to better understand, regulate, and articulate how to move forward constructively.
Every moment of VLE is intentionally designed, from layering evidence-based skills and themes like lollipop leadership, to the interwoven content on emotional intelligence and communication skills, to hands-on workshops navigating conflict management and giving and receiving feedback, and even the transitional movements between. Lollipop leadership, a term coined by Drew Dudley, is defined by simple, everyday interactions like kind words or a small gesture that can have a lasting impact on someone’s sense of belonging, confidence, or direction. Each moment is crafted to foster personal insight and team growth.
Be well to lead well
Under the guidance of our VLI-trained facilitators, participants work in small groups to practice evidence-based skills that help them be well to lead well. In this safe and encouraging space, small groups move through the classic team development phases: forming, norming, storming, performing…and if they’re lucky in such a short time, catch a glimpse of transforming. Participants often express how meaningful it is to learn, stretch, and grow alongside high-achieving peers who strive to—and are—making a difference in their communities and within veterinary medicine.
This year, those reflections inspired me to pose an open, honest question to my 2025 small group, the “2 Hot 2 Handle Silly Gooses” (sic): “What would it take to make our teams at school, in leadership roles, in our workplaces feel like (and perform like) they do when things feel a bit magical at VLE?”
I’ve had the honor of being part of and building such teams. If the process were simple or easily repeatable, it wouldn’t still feel like an open, honest question, one I continue to sit with. Our daily lives have challenges and messy relationships that we have the privilege of setting aside for a week to invest in ourselves while at VLE or Trek. As servant leaders, every new team invites us to grow, to be humbled, and to have the courage to keep showing up.
For me, there’s nothing better than being on a team united in purpose, chasing innovative and pragmatic solutions to improve the lives of pets, their families, and veterinary healthcare teams. I’ve joined teams like this as an emergency clinician, while serving nationally on the 2015 National VBMA Board, and now on the Veterinary Leadership Institute Board. I helped build the most motivated team I’ve ever been part of alongside two other force multipliers at Nationwide. These teams weren’t perfect, every personal and team leadership skill I’ve learned through VLI has helped (and humbled!) me countless times. Rather, they provide a place to assume the best intent and keep trying to grow into our best selves, collaboratively creating our best work.
Whether you’re a new VLE alum, a seasoned VLI leader, or considering joining us onsite for Trek or VLE, I hope today you cultivate joy, curiosity, and engagement for yourselves and your teams. What has helped you build transformative teams?
If you’re a VLE alum, boost your energy by reviewing your year’s highlight video here!
