The Best Leaders Never Stop Growing
From a 16-year-old veterinary assistant to practice manager: The leadership lessons that shaped my career.
When I joined MacDonald Veterinary Services at 16 years old, I wasn't looking for a lifelong career—I simply wanted the opportunity to work with animals and be part of something meaningful. I had no idea that one opportunity would shape the next sixteen years of my life.
Over those years, I grew alongside the practice. I embraced new responsibilities, learned from incredible mentors, faced challenges that pushed me outside my comfort zone, and eventually became Practice Manager. Along the way, I earned my MBA while working full-time, helped guide our hospital through an ownership transition and its evolution into Birch Bark Veterinary Clinic, and discovered that leadership has very little to do with titles—and everything to do with people.
Looking back, I realize my greatest lessons didn't come from textbooks or boardrooms. They came from everyday moments inside a veterinary hospital. They came from difficult conversations, unexpected challenges, and watching people accomplish things they never thought possible.
Here are the lessons that have shaped the leader I continue to become.
People Are the Heart of Every Organization
Technology, equipment, and beautiful facilities all play important roles in veterinary medicine, but none of them matter without the people who bring compassion, dedication, and heart to work every day.
I've learned that the most successful organizations aren't built solely through innovation—they're built by investing in people. When employees feel supported, trusted, and empowered to grow, they don't just perform better; they create stronger teams, better client experiences, and ultimately, better patient care.
No piece of equipment will ever replace a culture built on trust.
Leadership Happens in the Small Moments
Many people think leadership is defined by major decisions or big accomplishments. I believe it's found in the moments no one else notices.
- It's checking in on a teammate after a difficult appointment.
- It's celebrating someone's first successful procedure.
- It's listening before offering advice.
- It's staying calm when everything around you feels chaotic.
People may not remember every decision you make, but they will remember how you made them feel. Those everyday interactions build trust, and trust is the foundation of every great team.
Growth Requires Change
One of the most meaningful chapters of my career was helping guide our practice through an ownership transition and its evolution from MacDonald Veterinary Services to Birch Bark Veterinary Clinic.
While our name changed, our mission never did. Our commitment to exceptional patient care, our clients, and our community remained the same.
That experience taught me that growth doesn't require abandoning your foundation. Instead, it challenges you to build upon it while embracing new ideas, new opportunities, and new ways to serve others.
Change can feel uncomfortable, but it's often where the greatest growth begins.
Never Stop Learning
One of the best pieces of advice I've ever received was simple: Never stop learning.
That philosophy has guided every stage of my career—from starting as a veterinary assistant to earning my MBA while working full-time, joining the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA), and participating in the Ambition in Motion mentorship program.
Leadership isn't something we master.
It's something we practice every day.
The moment we believe we've learned everything is the moment we stop growing.
Success Is Measured by the People You Lift Up
As I've grown in my career, my definition of success has changed.
Today, success isn't measured by a title, a degree, or professional recognition.
- It's measured by watching a team member gain confidence.
- It's measured by helping someone discover strengths they didn't know they had.
- It's measured by creating a workplace where people feel valued, supported, and inspired to do their best work.
When we invest in people, everyone succeeds.
Closing Thoughts
When I think back to the 16-year-old who walked into MacDonald Veterinary Services hoping to work with animals, I could never have imagined where that journey would lead.
Sixteen years later, I remain just as passionate about veterinary medicine, but my purpose has grown beyond caring for animals. Today, I'm equally passionate about developing people, embracing innovation, and helping create workplaces where individuals can grow personally and professionally.
Leadership isn't about having all the answers.
It's about showing up with integrity, remaining curious, embracing change, and helping others become the best version of themselves.
Because, in the end, our greatest legacy isn't the position we hold.
It's the lives we touch, the people we inspire, and the opportunities we create for others to succeed.
Author Bio
Deirdre Haley is the Practice Manager of Birch Bark Veterinary Clinic in Gilford, New Hampshire. Beginning her veterinary career at 16 years old, she has spent the past sixteen years helping guide the practice through growth, innovation, and an ownership transition. She earned her MBA from Southern New Hampshire University while working full-time and is a member of the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA) and a participant in the Ambition in Motion mentorship program. Deirdre is passionate about leadership, mentorship, and building workplace cultures where both people and organizations thrive.
