Episode #
95
The Hard and Soft Skills Needed to Build Durable, Human-Centered Veterinary Practices
January 29, 2026
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In today’s fast-evolving veterinary landscape, building a practice that is both resilient and purpose-driven requires more than clinical expertise. Join Dr. Cornelius for this in-depth webinar, where you’ll discover the essential skills veterinary professionals need to thrive amid growth challenges, whether you’re an owner, an emerging leader, or an integral team member. We’ll explore entrepreneurship as a “contact sport,” blending business acumen, leadership, and innovation with self-awareness and emotional intelligence to create practices that succeed sustainably. You’ll learn how to master critical hard skills—financial fluency, operational redesign, and KPI-driven decision-making—while leveraging AI responsibly to streamline workflows and enhance efficiency without overburdening your team. Equally important, this session dives into soft skills that drive strong culture, including active listening, psychological safety, clear vision-sharing, and people-first leadership. You’ll also gain strategies for networking, mentorship, and embracing failure as a tool for growth, ensuring that your team—and your practice—can adapt, thrive, and flourish in the modern veterinary world. By the end of this webinar, you’ll walk away with actionable insights, practical frameworks, and a fresh perspective on what it truly takes to build durable, high-performing veterinary practices that endure.
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Key Time Stamps
- 0:00 – 3:00 | Introduction and Guest Intro: Host welcomes Dr. Cornelius and outlines the episode on skills for durable practices amid growth challenges.
- 3:00 – 7:00 | Defining Entrepreneurship: Discussion on entrepreneurship as a “contact sport” blending business acumen, leadership, and team involvement for all vets.
- 10:00 – 15:00 | Hard Skills Focus: Emphasis on financial fluency via P&L, cash flow, KPIs, and operational excellence using AI for efficiency.
- 18:00 – 22:00 | AI and Innovation: Responsible AI use for workflows, governance, privacy, and shifting to “human-in-the-loop” roles.
- 23:00 – 28:00 | Soft Skills and Close: Self-awareness, active listening, psychological safety, networking, and embracing failure for strong cultures.
Key Takeaways
- Entrepreneurship in veterinary medicine requires combining business acumen, leadership, self-awareness, and innovation, even for non-owners.
- Critical hard skills include financial fluency (P&L, cash flow, balance sheets, KPIs) and operational redesign to boost margins without overworking teams.
- Leverage generative AI incrementally for efficiency, with focus on governance, training, and privacy to maintain trust and well-being.
- Essential soft skills are emotional intelligence, active listening, psychological safety, and clear vision-sharing to prevent burnout and foster progress.
- Build networks, seek mentors, embrace failure as normal, and prioritize people-first leadership for resilient, purpose-driven practices.
Christie Cornelius, DVM, MBA
Founder, Kindred.Vet
Founder, ChiefVetX
Dr. Christie Cornelius is a veterinarian, entrepreneur, and executive leader bringing a powerful blend of clinical expertise, business strategy, and technological innovation to the veterinary industry. With a background in palliative care, pet hospice, and in-home euthanasia, her work is deeply rooted in compassionate, client-centered care and empathy-driven leadership.
She holds an Executive MBA from Rice University, equipping her with the strategic and operational insight needed to help veterinary businesses navigate growth, complexity, and change. Dr. Cornelius is the founder of multiple veterinary ventures, including Kindred.Vet and ChiefVetX, where she focuses on scalable business models, leadership development, and the responsible integration of emerging technologies.
A strong advocate for innovation, Dr. Cornelius is particularly passionate about the practical application of Generative AI to improve efficiency, reduce burnout, enhance decision-making, and elevate both client and team experiences within veterinary practices. As a speaker and thought leader, she brings a unique perspective that bridges medicine, business, and technology—helping veterinary professionals build sustainable, future-ready practices while staying grounded in compassion, culture, and care.
Connect with Dr. Cornelius:
