Meet Cath Cuff, ME.d, Learning & Program Sr. Manager. She has been a part of the SVP family since December 2019. She oversees all elements of learning and development programs including design and implementation across the network.

How did you get to where you are now?  

After serving 17 years as a public school teacher for grades second through twelfth primarily focused on middle school students in math and science, I sought a bigger impact in education and transitioned into the corporate world. Within the corporate space, I worked in roles such as education development manager, content developer, instructional designer, facilitator, and senior education development analyst. With each new experience, I developed my skills and became a people leader in Learning & Development, ultimately leading a design team in the vet space while at the same time discovering my passion for people leadership with a focus on content development. Now, as a member of the Learning & Development team at SVP, I am thrilled to be in my perfect role and work alongside incredibly talented teammates every day.

How has SVP been instrumental to your development?

Working at SVP, building a successful Learning & Development department with extremely talented and passionate teammates, has been a highlight of my career. I get the privilege to help create high-quality leadership content for the field and hospitals, as well as skills training for our hospital roles.

As a woman leader in a predominantly male-led industry, what impact do you hope to leave? 

I hope to leave a legacy of passion for the hospitals, and make the quality of training and leadership in the hospital and field, specifically for women leaders, be the best it can be.

What are your tips for maintaining your health and well-being as a working professional?

I believe that life is about doing what you love to do when it comes to work and play. Focusing on what is within your control and making an impact in those places daily.

What is your advice to other women looking to join the veterinary industry in a role similar to yours?  

Learn all you can about the Learning & Development space, and the current thoughts around how people learn best. Get experience in content creation, instructional design, and facilitation. Read various books on leadership, that talk about being a servant leader, and leading from the back. Think about the best leaders you have had, why that is true, and begin to treat others as those leaders treated you. Build trust, and loyalty through being a person of high integrity and accountability.

Name a woman who has served as an inspiration in your life and why. 

I have so many women that inspire and influence me. I will choose Maya Angelou, for her fierceness around civil rights and her quote: " I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." I try to live by those words daily.