As Women’s History Month comes to a close, we’re spotlighting a phenomenal leader: Katie Brooks, CEO of CVCA. 

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Katie Brooks, LVT, CVPM has always had an affinity for animals and animal care. She graduated high school with a plan to become a veterinarian and, with a full scholarship in tow, she was well on her way. However, while Katie was making plans to achieve her life’s dream, tragedy struck, and she made the difficult decision to forgo a four-year degree – and her scholarship – to remain closer to home and support her family. 

Katie took an alternative route and completed veterinary technician school in her local area. During that time, she worked in all areas of veterinary medicine: emergency medicine, internal medicine and general practice. In 2001, she earned the opportunity to work with CVCA as a lead technician.   CVCA provided the work-life balance she sought, while delivering a new adventure every day. She began growing within the company and, in 2005, was asked to take on a leadership role. 

As a lifelong learner, Katie did not let her lack of a four-year degree slow her down. She garnered everything she could through hands-on experience and through books, podcasts and articles.  She intentionally surrounded herself with the right people, leaning on their knowledge and experience. Thanks to her passion and drive, Katie also completed the Veterinary Management Institute at Purdue University.

Through work experience, education and dogged pursuit of excellence, Katie gained the necessary skills she needed to join CVCA’s management team in 2015. As the Chief Executive Officer, Katie has built a team to support the growing organization, which now has 35 doctors in 16 locations across the nation. CVCA treats 35,000 cases annually, and is considered the largest specialty of its kind in the world.  

Katie is not only a rockstar CEO who manages an enormous, incredibly successful team; she is also married with a blended family of five active, wonderful children and two of the goofiest yellow labradors ever born.

When asked what advice would she give to women in the veterinary industry, she shared four pieces of wisdom:

1. Don't hold back from opportunity because you are not certain whether or not you are qualified. Seek out challenges and opportunities before you feel ready. 

2. Ask for help. The strongest and most successful women I know realize that they need to lean on those around them, personally and professionally, to achieve what they are truly capable of. 

3. Give yourself grace and allow yourself to make mistakes; that's how we become more capable. 

4. Most importantly – and this is something so many women struggle with – realize that taking time for yourself is key to showing up as our best self for others. We allow guilt to keep us from doing this, and in doing so, we perpetuate it generation after generation. What finally helped me focus on self care was the realization that my daughters were watching, and I wanted to live the kind of life I want for them.

Thank you, Katie, for all you do. Keep Wagging like the servant leader you are… 

To learn more about CVCA and the services they provide visit, cvcavets.com