Dr Katie Ford FRCVSDr Katie Ford FRCVS - Keynote speaker - Author - Co-founder of Vet Empowered
I had 27 letters after my name. None of them gave me me.
I spent my early years as a vet waiting to be found out. Understanding why changed everything. Now I inspire high performers and entrepreneurs to stop proving, own their value, and make an impact without losing themselves along the way.
Co-founder of Vet Empowered, delivering coaching and development to some of the UK's largest veterinary groups. Somatic and trauma-informed coach. MSc in emotional wellbeing. A decade of work on the imposter phenomenon.
- FRCVS
- Fellow of the profession I once felt I didn't belong in
- 2023
- RCVS Inspiration Award
- 27
- Countries my books have sold in
- 24,000+
- People following the work
Spoken for and worked with: BVA LiveLondon Vet ShowBSAVA CongressSPVS CongressBritish Veterinary Nursing CongressRoyal CaninUniversity of CambridgeVets for PetsThe TelegraphReader's Digest
Speaking
Your audience looks fine on paper. That's the point.
The highest performers in any room are often the ones quietly waiting to be found out. I was one of them. I tried to outwork the voice in my head, then I tried to outqualify it. Neither worked. What worked is what I now take onto stages across the UK and beyond: the evidence, the honesty, and a far better way to live with the inner critic.
The work
Things I've started, built, hosted, and been called in for.
Wellbeing runs through all of it. Impact is the point of all of it. Here's a taste.
- 40+
- projects, events and initiatives (and counting)
- 90+
- organisations I've spoken for
- 50+
- conference stages
Katie is one of the most interesting and inspiring people I've worked with. She is able to bring to life complex and difficult subjects in a way that brings everyone along with her, using humility and humour and her own personal stories that leaves the audience all a little bit wiser.
Now booking 2027.
The book
Everyone has a Jim.
Mine is the voice that spent years telling me I'd be found out. I fought him, I out-worked him, I collected qualifications to shut him up. Then I tried something different: I thanked him. And I stopped letting him drive.
Thank You, Jim is a guide to the inner critic, for those ready to stop playing small.
Get the book
Also by me: the To An Amazing gift books, given to veterinary teams in 27 countries. Find the perfect one
Strategy
Building something for the vet world? Let's make sure it lands.
I've sat on every side of the table: clinician, founder, company director, speaker, organiser. Brands, events and start-ups bring me in when they want something to genuinely connect with the profession, not just be seen by it.
Work with me on strategy
Things I wish someone had told me sooner.
New here?Start with the imposter phenomenon, explained18 March 2026 · 25 min read
I looked for the right thing in the wrong place for a long time
Qualifications, accolades, the next thing. I spent years looking for the right thing in the wrong place. This is the story of what I was actually looking for, and where I finally found it.
5 November 2025 · 6 min read
Stop Being So Hard on Yourself for Being Human
For the reliable ones, the strong ones, the ones who think they should be coping better. A kind nudge to stop being so hard on yourself for being human.
2 November 2025 · 20 min read
PMDD as a Veterinary Surgeon and Business Owner
A veterinary surgeon's honest journey with PMDD - from missing the signs in practice to finding what works as a business owner. Plus free resources to help.
For my people
Vet world or not, I'm def not for everyone.
But if you look fine on paper and feel like you're winging it, if you're tired of living by unwritten rules you never chose, if you'd quite like to be good at your job without losing yourself in it - we'll get on.
I write like I talk. Honest, a bit exposing, never a three-step fix. Take what helps, leave the rest.
Start here
Prefer it in your ears? Inspired & Authentic, my podcast. In your inbox? The newsletter, just below. In your feed? I'm @katiefordvet on Instagram.
Inspired & Authentic.
Occasional letters for people who look fine on paper. Honest stories, useful tools, and first dibs on new talks, books and events. Only when I've got something worth saying.