The Power of Women Gatherings

The past three weeks, I have participated in amazing experiences where I witnessed the energy and power of women gatherings.  I presented on “Finding your voice,” to the first meeting of a group of women veterinary practice owners in Southern California. I worked to facilitate the first meeting reviving a women veterinary practice ownership group here in Seattle.  In addition, I participated in a grant making process with a fabulous group of women that uses their collective giving power to help non-profits in Washington state.  These experiences demonstrated to me what focus driven, supportive, and collaborative groups of women can accomplish.

Several observations:

1) Being a sole owner of a veterinary practice can be lonely.  You have to be “show ready” for your staff when you go to work, and you have to be able to make tough decisions. A group of veterinary owners meeting together can create comradery and a space to talk openly. It can also provide a place to creatively problem solve.

2) Other independent veterinary practices owners are not your competitors; they are your colleagues.  We need to share which contractors, architects, IT, HR, accounting professionals serve veterinarians well and which do not.  We need to discuss what works and what doesn’t in electronic medical records and telemedicine platforms so we can drive improvements and new products.  We need to work together to address hard industry issues such as the paucity of veterinary technicians, who owns our profession, and how we are preparing the next generation.

3) Women in leadership positions often have imposter syndrome.  Marie Holowaychuk did a nice discussion of this in a recent blog.  Women can feel like they are “faking it,” don’t really know enough, or that there must be someone better for the job.  Having someone else validate your choices, encourage you, and remind you of all you have accomplished can be incredibly valuable.

4) In many leadership arenas today, forthright women are still told they are too loud.  It has been amazing for me to sit around a table and passionately talk with other women about issues and not be the loudest in the room.   Many men have told me that I speak up too much, but I was right in the middle in these three all-women gatherings.  We have come a long way as a society. However, women still need the support of other women to keep saying the things that need to be said.

5) Women gatherings are more powerful when they have  ground rules, a system of mentorship, and a strong mission. Creating these rules, systems, and mission collaboratively helps with buy in.  Having a true mission makes sure these groups live up to their purpose. Organizations are more long-term sustainable when they have mentorship systems as leadership can then be easily transferred.

I’m a practice owner – how do I find a supportive group?

For either gender:

1) Join your local VMA.  When I published my blog about why facebook groups should not replace your VMA, I heard from many people that VMAs vary widely in collaboration and inclusion.  Women from some parts of the country remarked that they did not feel welcome at their VMA.  In other regions, people had stepped up and recreated groups into meaningful gatherings. We are lucky in Washington that we a great state VMA.

2) Veterinary study groups. VSG has been around since 1984.  The organization creates groups of 12-22 practices to gather semiannually to share and learn.  These groups are not locally based and thus allow greater financial sharing than if you meet with neighboring practices.  These groups are for any practice owner, male or female.  My partner and I were part of a group and found it very valuable.

I’m a female veterinary practice owner and I’d love an all women group:

1) Start your own.  The group in the LA region is being started with help from Zoetis.  Our group in Seattle is starting with advice from a previous group called Practice share.  Please contact me at bdavidow@vetidealist.com if you are interested in more information in starting your own group (or if you are in Seattle, are a female practice owner, and want to join our group).

2) Practice Ownership for Women (POW).  Calico Financial is a financial services and lending group for veterinarians that strongly believes in independent veterinary practice ownership.  They started this program several years ago.  Materials for starting your own local group can be found here but you do have to join their mailing list.

3) Moms with a DVM.  This large facebook group is a supportive network of other moms.  While facebook can provide much support, I strongly believe in the power of in person connection.

4) Find a Lean In circle in your community.  Sheryl Sandberg wrote the book, Lean In, five years ago about what it takes to be a female leader.  A nationwide organization dedicated to supporting women leaders has formed as a result.  These groups are women leaders supporting women leaders from all different industries.  Click here for more information.

Thank you to the women I have gathered with over the past three weeks.  I am excited by what the future could bring.