Shannon Gervais, RVT | Redefining the RVT Career Path

This episode is sponsored by Solvet Canada: https://solvet.ca/

We sit down with the one and only Shannon Gervais, RVT, at CanWest in Banff for a conversation about leadership, entrepreneurship, networking, and the future of veterinary medicine.

Shannon shares her journey from RVT to a career that spans clinical practice, pharmaceutical sales, leadership, consulting, and founding multiple ventures in the veterinary space. We talk about what it really takes to grow beyond the traditional RVT role, why networking matters more than ever, and how the profession can better support RVTs who are ready to spread their wings.

We also dive into Shannon’s vision for Nova Vet, a tech-forward, client-centered practice model designed to elevate RVTs, improve team culture, and create a better experience for both pets and the people who care for them. Along the way, this episode touches on mentorship, authenticity, customer service, confidence, communication, and the power of finding the right people.

This is a great listen for RVTs, aspiring leaders, and anyone in vet med who has ever wondered what else might be possible.

About Shannon

Shannon Gervais, RVT is a veterinary industry trailblazer, entrepreneur, and innovator with over 25 years of experience in companion animal medicine. She currently serves as the National Companion Animal Business Unit Director at Solvet, where she leads the national strategy for the company’s companion animal division, focusing on veterinary pharmaceuticals, product development, and strategic partnerships across Canada. 

Shannon is also the Founder and Co-Owner of Nova Vet, a modern veterinary hospital in Calgary, Alberta, designed to deliver curated veterinary care through innovation, technology, and strong collaboration between Registered Veterinary Technologists and veterinarians. 

Originally trained as an RVT, Shannon has built a career bridging clinical practice, business strategy, and industry partnerships. She is passionate about advancing the veterinary profession through thoughtful innovation, operational excellence, and initiatives that support both veterinary teams and the pets they care for.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome to Don't Call Me Caddy. We are here at the Can West Veterinary Conference in Banff with the one and only Shannon G. Shannon G has one heck of a resume. So I actually have to use a phone to read all of this, okay?

SPEAKER_02 0:19

It's not memorizing rose-colored glasses.

SPEAKER_01 0:23

Yes. Just to make it more complicated. So Shannon is the National Business Unit Director for Soul Vet. She also is the founder and CEO of NovaVet. She's the founder and managing director of the Veterinary Loop. And she is on the board of directors for Next Vet.

SPEAKER_02 0:40

And I'll just add one more here. She's also my personal mentor and one of the people I look up to the most.

SPEAKER_01 0:48

I said earlier, well, when we were talking to Cameron, I said, because Lailani said, Oh, I look up to your mom. And I'm like, well, I would love to look up to your mom, except she's about five foot one. And I'm actually looking in the food.

SPEAKER_00 0:58

Five three, baby. Five three. You gotta give me those two in the case.

SPEAKER_02 1:00

And then with the heel, she's always wearing heels.

SPEAKER_00 1:02

Always and like beautiful heels. Always in heels.

unknown 1:06

Look down.

SPEAKER_01 1:08

But the one thing we all have in common is we're founders. Oh yeah. 100%. And we're badass and we're bougie. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:14

Well, you two are super bougie.

SPEAKER_01 1:15

This is mega bougie. Yeah. You are mega bougie. I am little bougie. Yeah. And I'm Leylani's just feral.

SPEAKER_00 1:23

And you're feral, 100%. Yeah. And Leilani is gonna be Queen Bouge here because we need that. We do need a Queen. We need a Queen. Yeah, it works.

SPEAKER_02 1:33

Well, you and I have worked together for a long time. We first met at an ER practice that we were both working at. We were sharing an office because it was a little bit of space that time under construction. And we clicked like this. Like I remember us saying, We are gonna be great friends.

SPEAKER_00 1:49

Oh yeah, 100%. 100% great friends, like completely aligned in what we wanted to do with the industry.

SPEAKER_02 1:56

And just supportive of each other, too. So we worked together for a long time. But your journey in vetmed started long before that. So I want to know how you got to where you're at right now, and I'm sure a lot of other people who are interested in being leaders and owning their own business in vetmed want to know. And so tell us a little bit about that journey, but also how do you want people to know you in the industry?

SPEAKER_00 2:17

Oh well, thank you, and thank you for having me here. You guys know I love you, appreciate it a ton. Yeah, so my resume is long. I always everyone's always asked me, like, what do you just like get bored and want to do something else? And I'm like, no, I actually just want to do everything in vetmed, and it's because I love it. So the more I can do, the more I can educate myself on various different positions, different companies, different things like that. It's just my passion. So, okay, here's my long-winded resume in a nutshell. So I've been an R VT now for 25 years, and uh She's also only 30 years old. Yeah, I'm only 30. Yeah, so I was really top of my class. Yeah, kid genius. Yeah, and elder. I I kind of always knew that I wanted to work with animals. It it started at a very young age. Animals were everything to me and always have been and always will be. So it just typical story when it comes to that. And then I I did volunteering in high school, ended up going to St. Lawrence College in Kingston for three years, becoming an R VT, and it's interesting because I thought that I would go into research, which is actually why I went to the school in Kingston. And I didn't actually go that way after I did my practicum. It was really interesting, and it's a great avenue, but I went into practice for about eight years, and I got my experience in companion animal nursing, and then it it was just time to grow. There were where I was living at the time in Ontario, there wasn't many opportunities to even expand industry knowledge in the actual clinical practice. So I ended up in pharmaceutical sales, and it was like the best experience just constantly learning. So through my pharmaceutical, I actually worked in large animal medicine. So I was a bovine. Oh, it was bovine, even better. Great. I used to have to stand up on the back of a stool to get my arm down that back end of the cow. It was fantastic. Anyway, so I did that for about four and a half years, and then I decided that I really wanted to be back into companion animal medicine and just change up life a little bit, move across the country and take up residence in Alberta. So moved from Ontario, started working for another company here, and I I did sales for that company and then worked into regional management and did some key account management, stuff like that. Then I was deciding I really want to keep learning, and so I ended up with a company working as their general manager and just moved up in the company and did some really cool things with director of the recruiting operations and technologist development. And then it was just keep on going. Just keep going. When do you sleep? I don't sleep very often, but when I do, it's very hard sleep. There's nothing waking you up. There's nothing waking me up. So yeah, I just love to do everything. I I started working as a consultant. I worked for this amazing company, Animal Health Link, and I still obviously partner with them on a regular basis and did my own consulting thing for a little bit, and then I met this company, Solvet, and I was doing some consulting with them and fell in love with this company. So I'm actually now the National Business Unit Director, as you mentioned, and loving working for a Canadian company that's founded here in Alberta with a veterinarian heart and soul of the universe. So yeah, and then in the meantime, I decided that I've always wanted to own a practice, and here in Alberta we have that opportunity. So that that meant a lot to me to be able to do that. And yeah, so I'm starting that journey with the most amazing business partner anyone could ever ask for. That's pretty awesome.

SPEAKER_02 6:08

Yeah, yeah, Daniel's great.

SPEAKER_00 6:09

Honest to goodness, I don't know what I would do without that man. It took me two and a half years to find him, and it it is all about finding your people, yeah, and somebody that truly believes in the same things that you do when it comes to the you know bettering this beautiful community that we're in. So that's what I'm doing.

SPEAKER_02 6:29

And then you also founded the veterinary loop, too.

SPEAKER_00 6:31

Yes, so the veterinary loop is a consulting platform. I'm still educating like usual. So I'm actually in the association for change management, and it takes about 5,000 hours to become accredited as an actual professional in that association. So I'm still working towards that. I'm at about 4,000 hours right now. Just it takes a lot. So but it'll be worth it, and I just want to help practices continue to climatize to our new situations and everything that we're dealing with in vetmed and just make it a better place. So it's pretty great as it is, but we need to just continue growing and moving ahead and thinking ahead. And yeah, so amazing.

SPEAKER_02 7:11

Well, okay, so what advice would you give to, and I'm gonna say specifically RVTs too, because yeah, I hear a lot about RVTs who are like, I feel like I'm hitting this glass ceiling when it comes to I've done clinical work for this long, I'm ready for a change, but I don't know what else to do. So I guess two questions. First is what advice would you give to those RVTs who are looking to spread their wings and innovate in this space? And secondly, what do you think that the industry as a whole, including regulators, including DVNs and other allies, could do to help with that situation? 100%.

SPEAKER_00 7:47

And it the first question if there's something that an RVT is out there thinking that they want to do or they want to grow or whatever, the best advice that I can give is connect with those people that are in your platforms. Like we're we're all connected on social media, different things like that. I can't even tell you how many times I've offered to I will sit and have a conversation with someone. Just tell me what you want to do. And my network is huge. So it's what interests you, and that's I always find that that is such an a great question for people because when you actually answer it truthfully, oh, I want to do this specifically. Okay, why aren't you doing it then? That's where you need to go. Like just start to visualize where you want to be and make it happen.

SPEAKER_01 8:34

Like even finding those moments that make you happy in the day is 100%. Why don't we find if you think of your best day, what is that made up of? Yes.

SPEAKER_00 8:44

That's what you should be building your hundred percent, a hundred percent. And nothing brings me more joy than being in the practice. Like, even when I'm on the road with Solvet, when I go into a practice and I'm just absorbed in what they're doing, whether it's the text, whether it's the doctors, everything, just being absorbed in that's my happy place. Like it's nothing brings me more joy than being there with the people that are in this every day. And yeah, I love it. So, so for anybody that's thinking, I want to do something else, blah blah blah. I oftentimes hear people saying, I think I want to switch industries or something like that. And I'm like, No, there is so much opportunity in our industry, just connect with the people that can help you with where you want to take your dreams. That is truly and honestly it.

SPEAKER_01 9:36

But I think sometimes, and I'm not an RVT, but the introvertedness and the fear that comes with trying to step outside of that zone is so debilitating. Absolutely. And then they'll be like, but if I go to someone who I look up to, then maybe that's the practice owner.

SPEAKER_02 9:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:54

And then they're like, but then they're gonna think I want to leave them and maybe I don't want to leave them.

SPEAKER_02 9:58

Yeah, well, and the nice thing about what I find entrepreneurs, especially in our space, is we love talking about new ideas and business and stuff. So I don't mind at all of it. I've literally met, like made time in my day to go meet and have coffee with someone, I'm thinking of the most recent one who had an idea for a business and she's like, Can I just run something by you? I'm like, yeah, I would love this. I would love to help you out with that. Absolutely. And so, you know, again, my follow-up question there is what would you do you see any sort of what advice would you give for the barriers that we can see with people in the space who are trying to innovate, but there might be some barriers there. What would you like to see change?

SPEAKER_00 10:41

Oh, there are a few things, obviously, but like I said, it took me two and a half years to find Dr. Daniel. He truly believes in elevating the RVT profession as much as I do. And I think that's something that from veterinarians and also from practice owners and stuff, we really need to keep thinking that this needs to grow. It's the only way, right? We have a leaky bucket when it comes to our RVTs leaving. So what is it that they need? So, in a lot of cases, it it always interests me the most, but when you have the brain of a nurse and you want to grow, it's like hey, can I grow here? What do I want to do? And having those conversations, the DVMs, the practice managers, the only thing that I could suggest would just be listening, like truly listening, and trying to grow our profession that way. There's just so many things that we can do internally to help this out. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 11:40

And I think it's it the that first step is the hardest, right? Always you're not gonna be able to swim for the horizon if you won't let go of the shore exactly.

SPEAKER_00 11:48

Oh, that was good.

SPEAKER_02 11:50

We need bars.

SPEAKER_00 11:52

Absolutely. That's a good tattoo reader.

SPEAKER_01 11:56

Kaylee, that producer Kaylee, that needs to be in like font. I like that. Yeah, that's good. That was good, Linali. I like that. I like that. Okay, well, I'm gonna add to this question because I come from this as a consumer. Yeah. And there is a breakdown between what a consumer sees with an RVT and a DVM.

SPEAKER_00 12:14

A hundred percent.

SPEAKER_01 12:15

So, what would you tell a consumer about the value of an RVT?

SPEAKER_00 12:19

You know what? This is everyone wants to yell at me when I say the titles and stuff like that, but truly and honestly, we're still at a point where people don't know what a technologist is. I do still refer to veterinary nurses, whether it's right or wrong, I'm sorry. But at the same time, when you say that, people understand. It's a different understanding, and I do say along with that, we don't have that title, we call ourselves registered technologists. But trying to explain that, it is really like taking the time to explain what we do. And it's starting. I was in the taxicab last night, and he's just he actually said, He's are you a DVM or are you a tech? And I'm like, I am so impressed. I'm like, thank you. Yeah. I'm like, that means a lot because you actually referred to us in our proper capacity. Yeah. And I said, and you know what that means. And I'm like, that means a lot to me. So I think from like regulatory, from educators, from everything, it's really trying to publicly emit what we're doing, letting the public know this these are our qualified people, this is our veterinary team. Yes, and that is the key. So that's what we'll be doing. 100%.

SPEAKER_01 13:30

And you don't just put a express evil gland. Yeah, 100%. Because I've been a part of that show and that's disgusting.

SPEAKER_00 13:36

Yeah, and I've heard from our techs as well, we do so much more than nurses. And I'm like, okay, granted, like as in the human nurse. And I'm like, we do. We're specialized in a lot of different things, but they are two, so we don't need to compare. It's just the nursing capability in general. It speaks to people.

SPEAKER_02 13:54

So you know what it is for me, I think because I agree, I'm not I I understand why our legal title is registered veterinary. I do too technologist, because there is a title protection. Yes. So I understand the legalities. However, for me, a technologist does not like that that word does not include the care. I think that's what it is for me. Yep, the caring aspect of it isn't there. Whereas when you hear nursing, you're like, you know, you're thinking of nursing something back to health. You know that that's a caregiver.

SPEAKER_01 14:23

You know, and it comes with all different vicious nurses. They are like, No, they're some vicious technologists too. I know this is true. This is so true. I look at it like you guys are if we looked at human medicine, you'd be the caregiver. Yes. Like the ones that are compassionate and empathetic. But you're also the badasses that are like, this is what has to be done. And like when the pressure comes on, the doctors will come to you to be like, what's the right medication or whatever's the right?

SPEAKER_02 14:54

Well, and I want to talk about NovaVet. I want to talk about why you named it that first of all, but then I also want to talk about how you're gonna put some of what you just mentioned into action there. I know it sounds like you've got a fantastic business partner. Well, I know that you have a fantastic business partner. We do partner, but it sounds like you think so too. But yeah, what are you guys gonna be doing to advocate for what the role of RBTs is that to make sure that people know and to make sure that they're using their they're practicing to their full scope and building that team that we know is so special to you?

SPEAKER_00 15:27

Yes, the key is the people obviously having the right people, they have to have the right mindset and everything as well. We're very we're we anticipate being a very, I would say, forward futuristic medicine practice. So enabling all of the things that are available to us that are coming, all the new things, next bet, like using our tools that we have to just better our medicine. The cool thing about what we're doing, and this is near and dear to me, is that this was built on it being a tech forward practice. So each tech has their own room that they will have to be able to do their appointments. And everything is overseen by our doctors, all the typical things that you would expect, but just really utilizing our techs to their ability, and the they'll reap the benefits, right? I mean, from everything from the education standpoint, but having their clients, having repeat clients, it's going to be a veterinary team approach. So it's not just you meet the vet and that's it, and you don't know who anybody else is. Our clinic will be educating the public on what we are, who we are, what we're doing, who these team members are, and the importance that they play in our clinic.

SPEAKER_01 16:43

Well, even as an employee there, like the autonomy that they're gonna have in the practice, the confidence that they know absolutely because you believe in them. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 16:56

Absolutely, a hundred percent. And that's that means so much to Dr. Daniel and I because we have to find the right people to be able to do this properly. But the goal is to be able to show just how successful this type of practice can be in our industry and then help others grow with that as well. And that's where the veterinary loop comes in. So we're also going to be helping other practices. Once we get our feet on the ground, once we get this all rolling, the idea that Daniel and I are so aligned on is giving back to the veterinary community to help other people with this model. Yeah. And just say, hey, you know what, you need some training, send them our way. We'll help you. We don't want to compete at that. It's not about that.

SPEAKER_02 17:40

And there's plenty of pieces of the pie. There's plenty of pieces of the pie.

SPEAKER_01 17:44

In every industry, that's what I don't think you and I talk about competition all the time. Yeah, and it's competition is so healthy. Oh, but if you're not, like, no one can copy what you do because it's not authentically. Exactly. So if you're authentic to yourself and what your vision is, it's going to ring through. Exactly. You don't you're not competing.

SPEAKER_00 18:03

No, and that's the thing, like it's so genuine that that's what people will see. And this is a very customer service-driven practice. And that's the thing that I want to see come back into vet medicine more. We talk about this all the time, but I've been in customer service type roles and everything for years. And it's when I hear what the clients are missing, that is what is very interesting to me, right? I'm like, they really just want they want more. And we talk about this even from a sales standpoint and different things like that. Like, everyone hates selling, no one likes to sell at the clinic and blah blah blah. And I'm like, okay, do you get frustrated when they go to the pet store and then they go and buy all the stuff that you just talked about? Because that's what this is what happens all the time. And I'm like, so educate them on the products that you have, the different things that you can offer and everything like that. And you know what? To be honest, I always say partner with your pet stores for the exact same thing. You're not always gonna carry the same thing. Yeah, just really it's about the clients and it's about their pets. So let's all work together on this. We've already got a network of people that we're working with that will we we just want to bring them in, and it's just all it's more about the pets and the clients, and just bringing this all together in a community that we can all prosper from.

SPEAKER_02 19:26

So I want to hear a little bit more about how all of these elements that you're talking about in terms of RVT utilization, the team putting the pets and clients needs top of mind. How did that come into the actual physical design of the building?

SPEAKER_00 19:41

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_02 19:42

What inspired it? Because I've seen the renderings, it looks beautiful. So I just want to hear about that process.

SPEAKER_00 19:47

I honestly, when we envisioned this, we wanted the most beautiful place for our team to come to work. Uh, that was like first and foremost, and then we combined elements of things that we loved. So I'm a huge Art Deco fan. And I was just like, there would be nothing more dreamy than walking into a place since my house does not have Art Deco style. There would be nothing more dreamy than coming into something with the architecture, the everything from the wall color, everything. Just I wanted something cozy. I wanted a less sterile environment. In the front, it when you walk in, it's just it's all about warmth. And that's what I was going for. So that was actually more for our pets and our clients. But then having the exam rooms, each having uh each tech will have their own exam room, that kind of thing. It's just it just meant a lot to me to be able to say, this is your room, this is where you get to run your appointments. And and yeah, and the same thing, like Daniel is 100% on board. Every everything in this clinic has been a pretty much a team approach. I couldn't have done this without Build It. I couldn't have done it without Courtney Vincent Designs. She has been absolutely incredible in bringing this all together. It is literally the most beautiful vet clinic I've ever seen. And I went in there the other day and they were doing the tile in the bathroom. I'm like, oh my god, it's art. It's art and tile.

unknown 21:23

I love this.

SPEAKER_02 21:24

Well, so this is super refreshing for me to hear because one of the things I've been noticing lately, you can let me know if you agree or not, is I've been noticing that it seems almost like in our industry, a lot of what I see is that it it's almost like some of the veterinary professionals resent their own clients. Like they they don't want to see them, they're easily annoyed by them. Yep. Which I think is probably a symptom of burnout. Sure. But so so it's refreshing to hear that that you really want to be able to keep them top of mind. So, how are you gonna continue that and make sure that your staff continue that?

SPEAKER_00 21:59

You know what? That's where it comes to making sure that we've got the right people. But honestly, it is a client industry. I've been at practices where sometimes it was really hard on the doctor. Like some of the team was like, Well, you like your clients better than you like us. And no, that's not the case at all. But you know what? Those clients are what keeps us here.

SPEAKER_02 22:20

Yeah, they put food on the table. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:22

I'm like, you know what? It's okay if you want to love your clients, that's all right. And you know what? Some of the practices that I was at way back when, like 25 years ago, it was a customer service-driven practice. And we had clients that would bring us fresh baking and bring us like thank you presents and all of those things, and those mean so much to the team. And just not everybody's gonna be perfect. We have to have the ability to say, okay, client, whoever you are, that you know what, if we're not able to appease you, then that you know, maybe you need to try somewhere else, and that's okay too. Sometimes it won't be a fit, but that's like the last thing on my mind now. It's truly and honestly, like what can we do to help you? And I feel like clients, when they know that, then that's all there is. There is less complaining, there's less, you know, challenges and stuff like that. If they know why you're there and what you're trying to do, and really it comes down to communication. Yeah, it's all about communicating to people. That's all I ever hear from clients. Is like, well, I had no idea that I couldn't just get a script refill because my my I see my dog's ears flaring up. And I'm like, yeah, the reason that you have to get a scene is because we can't put meds in and have your dog's eardrum blow. Like that, that's that's a big deal. So they're just like, oh, well, I didn't even know that. I'm like, that's a communication piece, right? So just really striving to do those best things for our clients as well.

SPEAKER_01 23:58

Communication is hard though. It is like it's a challenge in every industry. It's hard. And then now we live in a world where like I've actually said to some of my friends, I don't want you to text me anymore. Yeah, pick up the phone and call me because things just get misconstrued. Right? And then we go to this world of COVID, everyone's like, email and direct messaging and texting. And I had a client the other day in my office, which is not often anymore. Yeah. And she's, you don't even take phone calls anymore, do you? Like you just email, and I'm like, oh, that's a problem. If you think that I'm not I like I hate email, but I hate it because the communication just breaks down.

SPEAKER_00 24:34

Yeah, a hundred percent.

SPEAKER_01 24:36

And the one thing I just want to add is my in business, the one thing my dad said is that if you take care of your client first, your client will always take care of you. I love your dad. Yeah, like I could have the worst, like maybe I'm not like besties with this client, but I know that if they're going through something, I'm gonna take care of them. That's right. And that experience for them is what they're like, I just at least felt taken care of.

SPEAKER_02 25:01

Exactly. Well, and on top of that, if you take care of your employees, they'll take care of your employees. Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 25:05

Like it's all this beautiful circle of what we need to do and where we need to go. And we do hear the negativity and see it on some of the posts and stuff like that. And I just want to like take everybody and be like, okay, let's reframe this, let's look at this from a different lens. Some of the stuff that you see posted and stuff like that, it just breaks my heart. But I yeah, it just gotta re reframe totally.

SPEAKER_02 25:29

On another one of our episodes, we were talking to Dr. Jody Visty, and she was saying how when she had her first baby, she got 150 baby gifts from clients. Did you have to 150 clients in the game?

SPEAKER_00 25:41

It does not surprise me with Jody. She's freaking amazing. So, yeah, 100%. I love it.

SPEAKER_01 25:47

I just think imagine if the community, like even in the financial services community, the vet community, if everyone just took care of each other. Yes, right? You do have to find your people. You do, but even just oh, you can be in business and I can be in business, and we're all gonna be okay and help each other be successful. Because if we're all successful, we're all winning. It's always like I tell students if you would actually share how you negotiated your contract with each other, then maybe everyone's gonna earn a little bit more money. Yeah, so you can all go on that girls' trip together and no one's gonna be stressing about money. Yep.

SPEAKER_00 26:20

100% just take care of each other. 100%. And that's I don't know, I'm the least competitive person on the planet. I don't believe that. Oh no, I'm only competitive with myself. I was about to say, you compete with yourself. I compete with myself 100%.

SPEAKER_01 26:32

And this is why we're wearing rose-colored glasses.

SPEAKER_00 26:35

I like the rose-colored glasses. Thank you, Solvet. No, it's true though, but like I always just say that we all have our own toolbox, right? And it's just what we're utilizing out of it. Different companies, different exactly. Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 26:51

No, like I remember our first conversation. I met you through this one.

SPEAKER_00 26:54

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 26:55

And then you booked a meeting and it was like an hour and then it turned into three hours.

SPEAKER_00 26:59

And I'm like, that's that's usually how we roll.

unknown 27:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:02

It's the longest. I'm exhausted, but like in a good way. My brain was working. Yes. Just like sharing ideas. A hundred percent of this is how we would love to see the community. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 27:12

Oh, and the I think one of the biggest lessons I learned from you, Shannon, and I'd love for you to comment a bit more on it, is the power of network because you do have a huge network.

SPEAKER_01 27:22

Oh, yeah, you are a little networker.

SPEAKER_02 27:24

So does that come naturally to you? I know you're a very natural conversationalist and you enjoy talking to people, but when did you realize like how powerful that network is? Is there a certain point where you're like, I need to call in a favor? Yeah, no, you know what? I've got this huge network to help me.

SPEAKER_00 27:41

It's such a great question, and everyone always asks, like, what do you do? And it's just like you have conversations with people. There was a general manager that I worked for at Shearing Plow. I'm dating myself, that's how old I am. Wait a minute, Cameron comment on the stress balls from this.

SPEAKER_01 28:00

They were her favorite stress balls.

SPEAKER_00 28:02

No, that industry kid's been around for a long time. She got drug around everywhere. But it's there was one general manager, and she was an RVT of this company. So, as in, she worked her way up, and I had huge respect for her. One thing she said to me, she's like, you don't sit down at a table where you know everybody. You sit down at a table where you know nobody and you introduce yourself. And I'm like, ooh. I'm like, that's really hard to do because as extroverted as I am, probably equally as introverted. So I do enjoy that downtime and stuff. And yeah, I get tired, just like anybody else. But I I took that and ran with it, and that was when I first entered the industry, and that's how I've continued to roll is just nope, I want to meet everybody, I want to hear their story, I want to connect people, like just we all need to be working together. That's a huge thing for me. So, like, let's just network and just get to know each other and all of these things. That's how I roll, and yeah. So I actually thought about that. I'm just like, what is your skill, Shannon? I'm like, networking.

SPEAKER_02 29:09

Networking, but you also have so many great. I remember when we shared the office, we would just bounce like business ideas off of the stuff.

SPEAKER_00 29:18

Oh my gosh. Yeah, I wish I could turn this brain of mine off sometimes. That's why it's at night, it I'll be going in my head and I'll be like, okay, I need to think about this, I need to think about that. But I'm always thinking ahead, and that's I don't know, it's a blessing and a curse, I would say.

SPEAKER_01 29:33

Perhaps when you wish you could plug something into your brain to document all the ideas. I should do this. Yes. And then I fall asleep immediately. And then I wake up and I'm like, what was I supposed to do?

SPEAKER_00 29:42

Oh, you gotta have a pen and paper beside your brain.

SPEAKER_01 29:45

But I've literally have a note in my phone, like notes in my phone, 157 pages of notes.

SPEAKER_00 29:49

Yeah. We're very similar, darling.

unknown 29:51

Oh man.

SPEAKER_01 29:52

I but it's there's that book of never eat lunch alone or something like that. There's something about that. And uh, it's so true. Like I travel by myself all the time, you travel by yourself all the time. Yeah, and there is nothing better than sitting at a hotel lobby bar and seeing who you connect with. Yes, a hundred percent. I have so many Instagram friends, my friends are gonna watch this and they're gonna laugh because they are forced into relationships of people that I've met at an airplane.

SPEAKER_00 30:20

Yeah, oh, airplane bars. Oh my gosh, yes, yeah, a hundred percent. And just anywhere, like dog park. But you know what? I'm gonna comment on that because like as much as my circle is within the veterinary profession, I actually I go to a lot of different people that I meet, and I actually I chat with them about the various different things that they're doing. So it could be like ophthalmology, it could be dentistry, like all of those things. And there's so many different parallels, and so I just learn from them as well, and I teach them from the vet side, and it's that's the that is the key with that as well networking, everything, like you said, Julianne.

SPEAKER_02 31:01

Yeah, it's like that Formula One and the hospitals in the UK working together. Did you guys hear about that?

SPEAKER_00 31:06

Oh no, but that sounds like something I would love.

SPEAKER_02 31:09

Oh god, this is right up your alley. So I'll get some of the details wrong here, but you can look it up later. So the NICU in a hospital in the UK, I can't remember which one, was noticing that a lot of their babies as they were getting, they weren't surviving between the heart surgery to the NICU, like that small window of time being transferred. They weren't surviving. And so the doctors were like, we need to think outside the box. Something's happening where we're stuck here. What can we do? And then they were talking about it, and on the TV was Formula One racing. And they're like, wait a second, these guys can get this car ready within six seconds like this. They're a perfectly well-oiled machine, this team. So they wrote to Formula One, whoever, I don't know, the top honcho is there, and said, Can we meet with them and find out how their process works? And so they learned about it and they were able to take from that back to their NICU to be like, okay, how do we act as a well-oiled machine so that we're all because what they noticed there is that they could all communicate really well without necessarily having to have verbal communication. And everybody had a specific job to do. Amazing that they were, you know, that's that's what their focus was. That's what their focus was, and they brought it back to the NICU and had a ton more babies survive after it.

SPEAKER_00 32:27

Oh, that just brings goosebumps.

SPEAKER_02 32:29

Oh, but it's so and who would have thought Formula One race cars are gonna help save babies in coming heart.

SPEAKER_00 32:37

Settle down. Settle down. I love that story. That is a beautiful story. I love that, but it's so true, right? Like just never stop learning is kind of the jam.

SPEAKER_01 32:47

If you stop learning, you're dead. Yeah, like your brain just Yeah, a hundred percent. There's no way to know everything. I actually lost a client by saying, I'll have to look into this because I don't know about this. And they said you're supposed to know everything.

SPEAKER_00 33:02

Oh wow.

SPEAKER_01 33:02

And they chose not to work with me. I'm like, I can't know everything. No, I our rules change all the time. It's wild. Yeah, you know, but that's why you partner with people. You find people that specialize in work and easy.

SPEAKER_00 33:15

Oh, I love that.

SPEAKER_02 33:17

So, okay, if you had to get, let's say there's an RVT out there, they're a little bit introverted, they're like young Shannon who, you know, doesn't quite know how to do the networking. What are some easy steps that they could do when they first get to a conference? I know you said the sit at a table where you don't know anyone. What else can they be doing? How should they be prepared from like maybe what they dress to who I love that they work with or okay, hold on.

SPEAKER_01 33:40

Now Shannon dresses very well. Yeah, yeah, but Shannon is mega bougie.

SPEAKER_00 33:44

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But honest to goodness, I always the one I was helping one of the schools with some professionalism and stuff like that. That's the one thing we wear scrubs all the time, we're very casual, we're with animals, we get dirty. When you go to a conference, you present yourself professionally. We are a profession. So, you know, you come in your you know, nice jeans or whatever, you like get a blazer, nice sweater, cute t-shirts, and like just scatter cats support feral streets.

SPEAKER_01 34:17

I love it.

SPEAKER_00 34:18

But do that, right? And you just it brings a different element. Yeah. And I love seeing that. Like this is this conference in particular, when you look around, like they're it this is a professional conference. And I just find that that always helps. And you know what, honestly, for someone that's introverted, and if they want, they want to grow, then partner up with someone. Find a buddy, yeah, buddy up for sure.

SPEAKER_02 34:43

I'll take an introvert. I know, right?

SPEAKER_00 34:45

I do the exact same thing, right? I'll show you. Let's go.

SPEAKER_01 34:49

So, just on that note, the one thing during COVID, when everyone was working from home, yes, and vet clinics were not, yeah. You are yes, we were essential workers just like you were in finance, but we still had to work from home. Yes. And you wear like comfy clothes, joggers. And so then I was like, Frank man, I am like just braiding my hair, brushing my hair. Yeah, and then I'm like, I'm gonna put perfume on.

SPEAKER_00 35:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:15

Just like you just level it up a little bit. Like make yourself feel like I still feel good, smell good, look good. Yes. Oh, yeah, it'll give you confidence for sure.

SPEAKER_02 35:23

Like when you feel anyone can attest to having a great outfit on, and it just boosts your confidence. Totally.

SPEAKER_01 35:29

But doing that when you're not seeing anyone, like you're at home, yeah. You still do it. I'll curl my hair at home even when you're gonna have friggin' leggings when I'm wearing leggings now.

SPEAKER_00 35:38

But yeah, but that's the thing. You just do it. It's it's the same thing. Make your bed every day.

SPEAKER_01 35:42

Okay, I don't do that.

SPEAKER_00 35:43

My dog destroy it.

SPEAKER_01 35:45

But the other thing too is you can dress, like you can look super cool and authentic as long as you're dressing for you. Yes. So, like, we talked about this with our fashion show. So when we were doing our photo shoot, we made comments of I could pull off a certain style and Leilani was like, I don't know about this, and then vice versa. I'm like, I feel like a trash panda currently.

SPEAKER_02 36:08

Well, we did like a corporate goth one, and I was like, I got this down pat.

SPEAKER_00 36:12

I'm like, Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 36:13

And then we did a punk lamb one, and I was like, I feel like this is your strength, Juliet.

SPEAKER_00 36:17

This is you, this is you, this is me. And yeah, but that's a very good point.

SPEAKER_01 36:21

It's so important because that's where that confidence comes from. So if you never shop at, let's say, like a Club Monaco or Banana Republic, and you go in there thinking, okay, this is how I'm supposed to look. No, don't project or don't take on someone else's projection of you. Like you need to like rock who you are and be authentic to who you are.

SPEAKER_00 36:40

You know what? I love that you said that. There is one time when I was like, I do wear heels all the time. I always have, always will. I love them. It's just my jam. And I was told one time, like, you should really not wear heels to a clinic. This is when I was with sales or with one of the corporate groups, and I was just like, Well, why would I do that though? That's not me. And someone just said, Well, you should go in in scrubs and just be like at the level with the team. And I'm like, I can appreciate that a lot, but here's the jam like I am authentic a hundred percent. And so they will understand once they have a conversation with me. And it's not about what I'm wearing, it's what makes me feel good. But when I have that conversation with them, it's not a matter of whether or not I'm in a business suit or I'm in scrubs. I'm still gonna clean the crap out of the kennel whether I'm wearing a white blazer or not. Like it's that's who I am, and when they see that authentic person, it doesn't matter what I've got on, if I'm wearing heels or not.

SPEAKER_01 37:38

So I'm just like it's not the clothes that make the man, it's the man that makes the clothes or woman or person, the woman. Insert however you need to, but absolutely I think it is so important just to recognize who you are. Yes, absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 37:53

Yeah, and I think just as much as I talk about allyship and other people boosting RVTs, we also have to hold ourselves accountable to be able to say I'm gonna present myself in a professional manner, but that can look a lot of different ways. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 38:07

I look at rat most of the time, so it's great.

SPEAKER_02 38:10

I love it. So, okay, so I do have a question, Shannon, about we've talked about your accolades a lot. I want to hear about what is what's a moment that you were really struggling, and you don't have to specific get into specifics, but like how did you get through a moment where you were really struggling and were thinking about giving up on this entrepreneurial journey?

SPEAKER_00 38:34

You know what? That's a very good question. I think for me, I have gone through that just as much as anybody else. I was at a point where I was going to scrap this whole clinic idea. Truly and honestly, I do believe in manifesting what you want. And I just kept thinking, I need to find the right partner. And if I don't, I'll let it go. Because without having that, I didn't want to do this just on my own. And you can't, but there are you can always find ways. But I just started to think about what does my ideal partner look like? And I was so close to dropping Nova Vet, and then in walks Daniel, and I'm like, I tell him every day I am eternally grateful for you.

SPEAKER_02 39:23

You manifested him.

SPEAKER_00 39:24

I really did. For the best part of this though, is that Daniel is on the other side of this camera, like he showed up to be like, you have got to put him on this show. He is the best.

SPEAKER_01 39:34

We should just have him focus face in.

SPEAKER_00 39:36

Oh yeah, a hundred percent. He is the best. But I don't know, I think if you visualize, you know, what you're really after and you really think about it, I do think that those things can happen. I there's lots of different things in my life that have had that sometimes you just need a break, right? Just it that's okay.

SPEAKER_01 39:54

You need a minute.

SPEAKER_00 39:55

You just need a minute, and that's okay. And you can contemplate things. I don't know, Leilani, if it hadn't been for you, I probably never would have even gone to the freaking, what was it, the I had to basically sell myself to the Brookfield group to because they weren't interested in the vet clinic until I I went in there.

SPEAKER_02 40:15

I remember that everything was going wrong.

SPEAKER_00 40:17

Everything was going wrong. I didn't even have a partner. It it was just like letters.

SPEAKER_02 40:22

I think your car had broken down. Oh yeah, car broke down like everything. She was gonna be late for this meeting where she had to do it.

SPEAKER_00 40:28

Do you remember what you said to me?

SPEAKER_02 40:30

Yeah, you said, I think it was something like, so you had said, I feel like maybe the universe is trying to tell me that I shouldn't do this. Yes. And I told you, maybe that's what's going on, but a lot of times I feel like maybe the universe is just trying to see how bad you'll fight for it.

SPEAKER_00 40:47

Oh, you're gonna make me cry.

SPEAKER_01 40:49

I'm literally in between a hug right now.

SPEAKER_00 40:51

Oh like I am hug blocked. Did you know I I pinned that message in our talk because it meant so much to me? Because if she hadn't said that, I don't know if I would have gone. I was up till one o'clock in the morning doing a presentation redo, and I went the next day and we got the clinic space and we were competing with other people. So it was pretty that group is a pretty like big deal group, and they wanted they weren't even gonna consider just somebody as a startup going into this space. Yeah, and then I ended up getting it, and of course you did.

SPEAKER_02 41:24

And I saw your presentation, it was amazing.

SPEAKER_01 41:27

Leilani is the friend, like when shit's going back. Oh my god, it's like call Leilani because she'll say all the right things, right? Well, I'm like, oh my god. Scary dude, and then Leilani's like, here's a one-liner. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 41:40

Hey, you're just you're the same thing. Oh yeah, whatever. Stitch you back up with diamonds there. That's my next tattoo. That's pretty good actually. That was really good. That's yeah. That's on the personal side. We'll I did say don't worry, we'll fix you.

SPEAKER_01 41:54

It'll just be stitched with diamonds.

SPEAKER_00 41:56

And I'm like, okay, that's another tattoo. So we've got a few different lines going on in my body. It's happening.

SPEAKER_01 42:03

So last question. So we ask every guest. Yes. This I truthfully believe I think Leylani does too. We love music. Music just brings people together. It's a really great icebreaker, and it's one thing that we usually have in common, except Leilani doesn't do country music.

SPEAKER_00 42:16

So God, Leilani.

SPEAKER_02 42:18

I know very few that I'll listen to.

SPEAKER_01 42:21

Like Dr. Jody was on today and said humble and kind was one of her songs. Oh, I love it. And I was like, oh, that's a funeral song. And Leyline. Sorry, what song? I'm like, oh my god. So anyway, so what would be your win song? Yeah. Your walk-in song and your funeral song? Walk-in. Win and funeral.

SPEAKER_02 42:42

Think about if you're like a boxer walking in, like you're the grand. Oh yeah, I got that one.

SPEAKER_00 42:46

That one is the one that I've got.

SPEAKER_01 42:48

The win is I got the fucking Brookfield deal.

SPEAKER_00 42:50

Yeah. Oh, I love it. Okay, well, my walk-in would be who runs the world beyond it. So it's actually my alarm clock goes off.

SPEAKER_02 43:00

Oh, I have an alarm clock that goes, get the fuck out of bed, bitch, go.

SPEAKER_00 43:04

Actually, beat. I might need that one. Oh my god, I need that one.

SPEAKER_01 43:07

I might need that one. This morning I needed that one.

SPEAKER_00 43:10

My win, my win would be, I don't know who sings it, but you know the song Celebrate. Oh, yeah. Yeah, celebrate. Good time. And then my funeral song? Yeah. Oh. You're dead, man. I'm dead. So my favorite song is actually Dark Angel by Blue Rodeo. Oh. And Blue Rodeo used to be a client of mine when I was at a practice in Ontario. So I've been to their recording studio. Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 43:35

Time for a next episode. The famous people. Yeah. She also just aged herself by saying Blue Rodeo. Hey.

SPEAKER_02 43:43

I do know Blue Rodeo.

SPEAKER_00 43:45

Yeah, Blue Rodeo's a bomb. I love it. I know. I love it. But yeah, no. Yeah. Greg Keeler. There we go. Okay. Well, thank you. Thank you, ladies. Thank you so much for coming on the podcast. Love you always.

SPEAKER_02 43:57

Yeah. Love you too. Thanks. And actually, before we go, how can people get a hold of you? Oh god, that's important.

SPEAKER_00 44:03

You know what? Honestly, so I have several different emails. Which one would you like? Instagram. You know what? Honestly, LinkedIn is a hundred percent Shannon Gervais, Shannon G, whatever you want to call me. Shanny G for today's purposes. Shannon for today's purposes. So yes, 100% LinkedIn is always the best way. Okay, perfect. Awesome. Thank you. Thank you for the biggest. Love you. Tell Bellas.