Season 2, Episode 2: Sarah Schofield

In this episode of Meet the Animal People, Chris Whatling is joined by Sarah Schofield - veterinary surgeon, ICF certified coach, and founder of Positivity in Practice, for a conversation that's been a long time coming. Sarah's vision is for veterinary medicine to become the dream career so many of us imagined it would be. Through Positivity in Practice, she helps veterinary professionals rebuild their confidence, quiet their self-doubt, and rediscover what they loved about working in practice in the first place. As recruiters, we sometimes get painted as the people trying to lure vets out of clinical practice. The truth is, if everyone left, we wouldn't have the profession that animals and their owners need. So this episode digs into something we care about deeply: how do you tell the difference between someone who genuinely needs a new career, and someone who just needs a better version of the one they've got? Chris and Sarah talk about: \- Sarah's own journey from Cambridge vet school into six years of clinical practice, and the moment she realised something had to change the "vet voice" mask so many professionals put on for clients - and what it really costs. \- Why poor management, burnout and low confidence push good people towards the exit, and what can be done before it gets that far. \- How to spot whether it's the practice, the profession, or something internal that needs to change \- Why leaving clinical work doesn't have to be a one-way door. \- What burnout actually looks like, and small, realistic steps that help. \- How Sarah built an AI coach into Positivity in Practice, and where she thinks AI helps (and where it doesn't). Whether you're a vet, a nurse, or anyone else in the profession quietly wondering "is this it?", this one's worth your time.