Jennifer Easterling and I worked together for three years in a fast-paced, busy ambulatory veterinary practice. When our working relationship began, I had actually called our corporate executive leadership and told them that without better support, management, and leadership, I was going to leave. I was that miserable.
Within a week, Jennifer was put into a leadership position at our practice—and within 24 hours, my work life was noticeably better. From the beginning, she took ownership. She quickly identified the obvious problems, addressed them head-on, and began rebuilding the team and the culture.
The transformation over the following year was remarkable. She took our clinic from being in the bottom five out of 160 hospitals to the top three within her first year. While that improvement in revenue and production was impressive, the more meaningful change was what happened to the people. The culture improved dramatically. People were happier, communication improved, and the team began functioning as a team again.
One of Jennifer’s greatest strengths is her ability to communicate in a way that turns difficult situations into productive ones. She taught me to approach challenging conversations differently—to ask rather than assume, to be curious, and to create space for people to actually communicate what is happening. She also has an incredible ability to sit comfortably in uncomfortable conversations. She never avoids a difficult answer or a hard truth; instead, she addresses it directly and constructively.
Jennifer didn’t just lead our team—she taught me how to be a better leader myself. I watched her consistently model the kind of leadership I wanted to develop in my own career: clear, direct, empathetic, accountable, and willing to have the hard conversations that ultimately make teams stronger.
What stands out most about Jennifer is that she genuinely cares about people. She has an incredible ability to see both the individual and the bigger picture, and she builds relationships based on trust and respect. I watched her earn the confidence of people at every level of our organization, including those who were initially resistant to change.
Looking back, it is clear that Jennifer outgrew her role because leadership is not simply something she does—it is what she is exceptionally good at. She has a gift for identifying what isn’t working, creating meaningful change, and bringing people along with her.
I am incredibly excited to see her take that gift into leadership consulting. This is her niche, her passion, and truly what makes her tick. I have personally experienced the impact of her leadership, and I am confident that the organizations and leaders who have the opportunity to work with her will be better because of it.
#horsedocholly