Keynote Speaker. Workshop Facilitator. Leadership Realist.
Suzanne Thomas brings 15+ years of veterinary experience, operational leadership, and unfiltered truth to conference stages, workshops, and team trainings across the country. Whether she's firing up a room full of managers or guiding veterinary technicians/nurses through leadership breakthroughs, her sessions are engaging, impactful, and grounded in what actually works in real clinics.
🎤 Talks & Topics
Suzanne delivers talks that are bold, practical, and designed to move veterinary teams forward. Each session is grounded in real-world experience and customized to the needs of the audience—whether it's a hospital team, leadership summit, or national conference.
🧠 Leadership & Influence
From Defense to Empowerment:
Leading Veterinary Teams Through Conflict, Chaos, and Client Expectations
A session for leaders navigating high-pressure environments. Learn how to shift from reactive management to empowered leadership—especially when team morale and client demands collide.
Empowering Your Team Through Influence, Not Control (CareVet Manager Accelerator Program 2025)
A modern take on leadership for hospital managers and MDs. Discover how to get buy-in, build trust, and actually lead—without micromanaging your team into burnout.
Maintaining Integrity and Authenticity:
Lessons from Veterinary Leadership
How to lead with clarity and character—even when it’s hard. This talk explores real-world moments where staying true to yourself matters most.
👥 Team Development & Communication
Navigating Difficult Conversations:
Leadership Communication in Veterinary Practices
A skills-based session focused on giving feedback, setting boundaries, and having hard conversations with compassion and clarity.
Building Inclusive Veterinary Teams:
The Role of DEIB in Practice Management
What inclusion looks like beyond a policy—and how to integrate equity and belonging into hiring, training, and daily clinic culture.
🩺 Technician Utilization & Career Growth
Beyond the Exam Room:
Developing Leadership Skills in Veterinary Support Staff
Perfect for techs, assistants, and client service teams stepping into leadership roles. This session helps support staff develop real management skills—not just more responsibilities.
Empowering Veterinary Technicians:
Strategies for Leadership and Career Advancement
Actionable tools for helping credentialed technicians grow into team leads, mentors, and beyond. Includes tips on training, delegation, and visibility.
Workflow Management & Technician Utilization (CareVet Manager Accelerator Program 2025)
An efficiency-forward session that focuses on letting your techs work at the top of their license—because better workflows lead to better medicine, better morale, and better margins.
🌱 Wellness & Sustainability
Wellness at Work (GVSCon 2024)
A refreshing look at what team wellness really means—and how to move beyond free snacks and yoga posters to build emotionally sustainable workplaces.
🧠 Neurodiversity & Mental Health in Leadership
Leading While Neurodivergent:
ADHD, Anxiety, and the Reality of Veterinary Leadership
An honest, relatable session for leaders and team members who struggle with focus, overwhelm, or masking at work. Suzanne shares her own experience navigating ADHD and anxiety while managing high-stakes roles—and provides tools for creating more inclusive, human-centered workplaces.
Rethinking Neurodiversity in Veterinary Medicine
A foundational talk for hospital teams and corporate leaders on what neurodiversity actually means in practice—how to support team members with ADHD, anxiety, sensory differences, and more. Includes actionable suggestions for communication, workflows, and performance expectations.
Book Suzanne to Speak
Whether you're planning a national conference, a leadership retreat, or an in-clinic workshop, I’d love to bring real-talk leadership to your event. I speak on topics ranging from veterinary team dynamics and veterinary technician/nurse utilization to neurodiversity, DEIB, and building sustainable leadership skills for the whole team.
Use the form below to get in touch with a few details about your event. We’ll connect to see if it’s the right fit—and how we can make it impactful for your audience.
