Sophie started her veterinary career on reception at Scarsdale Vets, where she discovered how much she enjoyed helping support clinical teams and clients alike. Now an Area Director, she shares what those early days taught her about leadership, empathy and resilience, and how they continue to shape the way she works with practice teams.
I've always loved animals and originally dreamed of becoming a vet. A childhood visit to Glenthorne Vets with my poorly pet goose sparked my passion for the veterinary profession, and I later returned there for work experience as a teenager. I joined Scarsdale Vets as a receptionist and quickly realised how rewarding it was to support both pets and their owners. Although I didn't become a vet, I've built a career in a profession I love and have spent many years helping animals, their families, and the occasional hand-reared waif or stray along the way.
Working on reception taught me that veterinary reception is one of the most challenging yet rewarding roles in practice. No two days are ever the same and you have the privilege of supporting people through both some of their happiest moments and some of their most difficult. It taught me that when clients are upset, frustrated or worried, kindness and empathy can make a real difference. It also showed me the incredible compassion that exists within our communities as time and again I've seen people come together to help animals and support one another. Seeing that balance of challenge, resilience and kindness is something I still draw on every day.
After finishing university I spent a few years working in the construction industry. I enjoyed the work and the people I worked with, but it made me realise just how important it is to be passionate about what you do. Nothing ever captured my heart in the same way as the veterinary profession. While I'm not clinically trained, I've always loved working with animals, and even more than that, I love working alongside the incredible teams in our practices. Regardless of their role, everyone shares the same commitment to animal care and making a difference. It's hard to describe, but there's a unique sense of purpose you can feel the moment you walk into a practice, and that's what has continued to inspire my career journey.
The best part of my role is working with our amazing practice teams. I'm fortunate to support a mixed area across small animal, farm and equine practices, so there's always something new to learn. A typical day is spent in practice with teams, understanding their challenges, celebrating successes and supporting their goals. I also work closely with leadership teams to ensure we're balancing excellent patient care, team wellbeing and strong business performance.
My leadership style is centred around listening, trust and helping people reach their potential. I believe teams achieve the best results when they're empowered to share ideas, challenge thinking and continuously improve. I'm constantly inspired by the dedication, clinical excellence and compassion shown across our practices. For me, great leadership is about surrounding yourself with talented people, supporting them to succeed and never stopping learning from them.
Inspiring Vet Care's commitment to continuous improvement is what keeps me motivated. I love that we're always looking for ways to do things better while maintaining the right balance between patient care, client experience, colleague wellbeing and business performance. Most importantly, I work with incredibly passionate people who care deeply about what they do, and I'm proud to be part of that culture.
Be curious, get involved and make the most of the opportunities around you. We have an amazing network of practices and people to learn from, so don't be afraid to reach out and explore different areas of the business. The great thing about our profession is that there are so many career paths available, and you can often progress into a variety of roles without ever leaving the organisation.