Beyond the Rota: Leadership, Efficiency & Change Management in Modern Vet Practice │Episode 50

In this episode of the Modern Veterinary Practice Podcast, Jack Peploe is joined by Debbie Robinson, founder of Vetnetics, to explore what real leadership looks like in today’s veterinary profession.Together they unpack why culture is not a “soft” concept but a core business strategy, how gossip and exclusion silently erode team performance, and why sustainable practices protect people before processes. Debbie shares practical insights from coaching over 80 practices - including why autonomy, meaningful recognition, and continuous improvement systems are critical to fulfilment at work.If you’re feeling stuck in survival mode, this conversation will challenge you to lead with greater intention, energy, and empathy - and to redesign systems before burnout redesigns your team.

What if the real key to sustainability in veterinary practice isn’t working harder - but working smarter?In this episode of the Modern Veterinary Practice Podcast, Jack Peploe is joined by veterinary surgeon and VetSource UK lead, David McDonald. From clinical practice to corporate leadership and tech innovation, David shares hard-earned lessons on operational efficiency, leadership maturity, and why change management may be the most underrated skill in veterinary business.They explore the hidden inefficiencies in everyday practice life, why we measure the wrong data, how better systems can improve wellbeing (not just profit), and why so many teams struggle with change. If you're a practice owner, leader, or ambitious vet looking to future-proof your business without burning out your team - this episode is essential listening.

Insurance is often seen as a necessary evil in veterinary practice – complex, slow, and admin-heavy. But what if it didn’t have to be that way?In this episode of Modern Veterinary Practice, host Jack Peploe is joined by Garry Nelson, Managing Director of Wisentic Pets UK. Drawing on decades of experience across insurance, technology and claims automation, Garry explains why pet insurance is uniquely complicated, how AI can remove friction from practice workflows, and what the UK can learn from Sweden’s real-time, fully connected insurance model.From automated clinical notes and instant claims to a vision of the veterinary clinic in 2030, this conversation explores how technology – when done properly – can feel a little bit like magic.

In this episode of the Modern Veterinary Practice Podcast, Jack Peploe is joined by Ian Stroud and Francesca Verney, co-founders of Pet People Vets, to explore what “human-first” veterinary care looks like in reality. From intentionally designing culture and recruiting for values, to preventing burnout, fostering innovation, and leading with vulnerability, this conversation dives deep into how prioritising people leads to better outcomes for teams, clients, and patients - and why the future of the profession depends on it.

Veterinary technology is everywhere - so why do so many teams feel more stretched than supported? Recorded live at London Vet Show, host Jack Peploe is joined by Ben Sweeney (founder of Vidivet) to unpack tech saturation, burnout, and the gap between what tools promise and what practices actually experience. They explore hyper-personalisation, rebuilding trust after bad rollouts, and how tech can enhance human connection by protecting consult time and improving consistency for clients and teams.

In this episode of The Modern Veterinary Practice Podcast, Jack Peploe welcomes marketing strategist Matt Madden of Heedly to explore how veterinary clinics can shift from chasing volume to attracting the right clients. Matt shares insights from global brands like L’Oréal and Virgin, breaking down why clear messaging, transparent communication, and a strong marketing foundation are essential for practice growth and team wellbeing. From the psychology behind client behaviour to the future of AI in veterinary communication, this conversation gives practical, actionable advice for clinics wanting to grow with intention - not overwhelm.

In this moving episode, Jack Peploe speaks with Alice Hendy, MBE, founder of Ripple Suicide Prevention, about transforming tragedy into global impact. Alice shares the story behind R;pple, a digital tool that interrupts harmful online searches and redirects people toward immediate, compassionate support. Together they explore the role of tech in mental health, the responsibility of digital platforms, and what leaders across veterinary teams can do to build safer, more open cultures. A powerful conversation about empathy, innovation and protecting those who feel most alone.

Veterinary surgeon-turned-executive coach Dr. Libby Kemkaran-Thompson joins host Jack Peploe to unpack the neuroscience behind behaviour, stress and fulfilment at work. We explore why 95% of what we do is driven by the subconscious, how to interrupt fight-or-flight in the consult room and beyond, and why great leadership manages energy as well as output. Libby introduces her “Big Cat Brain” model (Cheetah, Tiger, Lion, Leopard) to help teams communicate, align and thrive. We also tackle common mindset traps - including perfectionism and people-pleasing - and practical habits for building resilient, happy veterinary teams. If you lead a practice or want to enjoy your career more, this is your playbook.

Automation isn’t glamorous - but done right, it frees vet teams to do their best work. In this episode, Jack Peploe talks with Carly Clark, Product Leader at Covetrus, about what really future-proofs a veterinary practice: scalable cloud infrastructure, thoughtful integrations, and people-first workflows. Carly shares where automation delivers immediate wins (reminders, stock control, payment integration) and where AI is already practical - like scribe tools and summarising long patient histories. We also dig into adoption hurdles, in-app education loops, and how “less clicks, more care” should guide product decisions. If you’re weighing cloud vs on-prem, wondering which integrations matter, or trying to separate AI signal from noise, this conversation gives you an actionable roadmap for the next 12–24 months.

How is technology reshaping the way vets connect with clients and their pets? In this episode, Jack Peploe speaks with Jamie Crittall and Charlie Barton, co-founders of Boop Pet Record, about how digital innovation is redefining trust, communication, and pet care delivery. Together they explore what Gen Z’s arrival as the dominant pet-owning generation means for the profession, the importance of responsible data use, and how to ensure technology empowers rather than replaces the vet-client relationship. A must-listen for veterinary professionals looking to navigate the next wave of digital transformation in practice - balancing innovation, compliance, and compassionate care.