Leading With Compassion & IGNITEing Your Team With Dr. Jill Clark
Release Date: 06/16/2025
From Corporate Regret to Culture Change with Dr. G
Choose People Love Pets
From cleaning kennels to owning thriving practices, from corporate buyouts to a doctoral dissertation on burnout — Dr. Gershon “Dr. G” Alaluf has lived nearly every chapter veterinary medicine has to offer. In this honest, unfiltered conversation, Dr. G opens up about what he’s learned from three decades in practice and why he believes the future of the profession depends on who we let in — and how we lead once they’re here. He and Dr. Armstrong talk about: Why selling to corporate was the biggest regret of his career How profit-sharing, mentorship, and trust transformed his...
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The Technician Ceiling: How Christian Coleman Redefined What’s Possible
Choose People Love Pets
From starting as a veterinary assistant with no experience to becoming Director of Operations at Hound and helping launch Home Love, Christian Coleman proves there’s no ceiling for veterinary technicians. His journey is a story of taking leaps of faith, finding mentors, leading with curiosity, and learning to give yourself grace along the way. In this episode, Dr. Brianna Armstrong and Christian talk about the realities of leadership, imposter syndrome, career growth, and the power of curiosity in building strong teams. If you’ve ever wondered what’s possible for your career beyond the...
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Failing Forward, Finding Purpose, & The Flow State with Dr. Ivan Zak
Choose People Love Pets
In this conversation, Dr. Ivan Zak shares his remarkable journey from veterinary school to becoming an entrepreneur in the veterinary field. He discusses the challenges he faced while building a diagnostic lab in Russia, the importance of partnerships, and the significant issue of burnout in the veterinary profession. Ivan emphasizes the need for setting goals to maintain career satisfaction and shares insights from his research on burnout among veterinarians and technicians. He advocates for creating supportive environments to help professionals thrive in their careers. In this engaging...
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Technology, Mental Health, & Career Pivots With Dr. Mark Massaro
Choose People Love Pets
In this conversation, Dr. Mark Massaro shares his unique journey through veterinary medicine, highlighting the intersection of technology and mental health. He discusses the pressures of family legacy, the challenges faced during veterinary school and internships, and the impact of COVID-19 on the profession. Mark emphasizes the importance of mentorship for new graduates and the need for balance between clinical practice and technology. His candid reflections on mental health struggles resonate with many in the veterinary community, offering insights into overcoming personal challenges and...
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From Idea to Impact: Building a Mentorship Business with Dr. Dani Rabwin
Choose People Love Pets
In this insightful episode, we delve into the transformative power of mentorship in veterinary medicine with Dr. Dani Rabwin, founder of Ready, Vet, Go. Discover how a simple Zoom call evolved into a national mentorship program, reshaping the future of veterinary practice. Dr. Rabwin shares her journey from associate vet to entrepreneur, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of building a business while still in practice. Explore why true mentorship extends beyond medicine, focusing on confidence, connection, and culture. Join us for an inspiring conversation on what it truly means to love...
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From Vet Student to Venture Builder with Dr. Ira Gordon
Choose People Love Pets
In this conversation, Dr. Ira Gordon shares his journey from being a veterinary student to becoming an entrepreneur with the creation of Vet Prep. He discusses the challenges and successes of building a business in the veterinary education space, the importance of partnerships, and the lessons learned from both successes and failures. Ira also highlights the significance of word-of-mouth marketing and the need for innovation in the animal health industry. In this conversation, Dr. Gordon discusses the challenges and rewards of balancing family life with entrepreneurship in veterinary medicine....
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Turning Veterinarians into Business Owners With Dr. Jennifer Welser
Choose People Love Pets
In this conversation, Dr. Jennifer Welser shares her journey from a practicing ophthalmologist to a transformative leader in veterinary medicine. She discusses her role at Arista Advanced Pet Care, where she empowers veterinarians to become business owners and emphasizes the importance of communication, coaching, and technology in veterinary care. Dr. Welser also reflects on her experiences in corporate leadership at Mars Veterinary Health and the challenges and rewards of navigating the veterinary profession. In this conversation, Jennifer Welser discusses her journey in veterinary medicine,...
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AI Meets Intuition: How We Use ChatGPT to Hire for Culture
Choose People Love Pets
Can artificial intelligence actually help you hire better people? In this episode of Choose People Love Pets, Brianna and Phoebe pull back the curtain on how they’re combining gut instinct, value-driven interview questions, and AI tools like ChatGPT to make smarter, more aligned hiring decisions in their veterinary hospital. From evaluating resumes to catching red flags in interviews, they share the exact questions they ask, how they involve their team in the process, and the surprising ways AI has helped them hire for culture, not just credentials. You’ll laugh (cutoff butt shorts at an...
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Debt Free In Under A Year with Dr. Jack Murray
Choose People Love Pets
In this episode of Choose People Love Pets, host Brianna Armstrong interviews Dr. Jack Murray, a recent veterinary graduate who has successfully navigated a non-traditional career path. Dr. Murray shares his journey of paying off student loans in just 10 months, launching a luxury dog crate company, and providing in-home euthanasia services. The conversation explores themes of entrepreneurship, emotional resilience in veterinary practice, and the importance of supportive relationships. Dr. Murray emphasizes the need for veterinarians to challenge traditional career paths and pursue what truly...
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“Is It a Real Problem?”: How to Spot When a Behavior Needs Addressing
Choose People Love Pets
In this episode of Choose People Love Pets, Brianna Armstrong, DVM, and Phoebe Valdez, hospital manager and mom, unpack the tricky—but vital—question: How do you know when a team member’s behavior needs to be addressed? They explore: The difference between a bad day and a behavior pattern The importance of early conversations and how to avoid big issues later How to spot red flags like impact on clients, team morale, and culture What to do when multiple people are reporting a concern The value of feedback that leads with care, curiosity, and clarity You’ll hear practical...
info_outlineDr. Jill Clark is on a mission — not to maintain the status quo, but to revolutionize veterinary medicine. In this episode, she shares her winding path from the film industry to founding Ignite, why she’s fiercely dedicated to elevating veterinary receptionists, and how she’s learned to lead with honesty, integrity, and courage.
We talk about:
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The “frozen chicken” moment that launched her vet med career
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Why CSRs deserve education, recognition, and investment
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How to fire with compassion — and why it matters
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Creating cultures where people stay, grow, and thrive
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The power of magical moments in client experience
This episode is packed with wisdom for anyone who cares about leadership, culture, and doing vet med better.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Personal Connections
03:05 Mission and Revolution in Veterinary Medicine
05:59 Elevating Veterinary Receptionists
09:02 The Importance of Education in Veterinary Practices
12:01 Career Path and Transition to Veterinary Medicine
21:05 Lessons from the Film Industry
28:02 Leadership and Accountability in Veterinary Medicine
35:11 The Importance of Honest Conversations
39:25 Building a Strong Team Culture
41:27 Hiring for Cultural Fit
46:11 Interviewing Strategies for Success
49:52 Creating Exceptional Client Experiences
01:04:54 The Journey of Building Ignite
01:15:46 Expanding Horizons: Innovative Learning Solutions
01:21:40 Setting Boundaries: Preventing Burnout in Veterinary Practice
01:26:18 Cultivating Culture: The Importance of Hiring
01:30:15 Navigating Leadership: The Art of Firing
01:36:02 Core Values: Building a Strong Team Culture
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