Dr Clive Elwood, former small animal medicine specialist and previously Managing Director of Davies Veterinary Specialists, has devoted the next phase of his career to supporting others within the profession with mentoring and coaching.
Clive used his time during lockdown to gain a Master’s in Executive Coaching from Ashridge Hult Business School. The two year, part-time, qualification has given Clive the final string to his bow to deliver support and guidance to veterinary professionals seeking career development or change.
Having experienced the profession from different sides, both as a clinician and as a director, Clive wanted to develop and integrate his skills to support fellow professionals. The challenges faced by the veterinary sector during the pandemic gave him further motivation to achieve new coaching goals.
“Clinical leadership was demanding, fascinating and rewarding, with different challenges from clinical practice,” he said. “As I developed my leadership identity, I found working with a coach extremely valuable and, as I practised coaching, was curious to learn more about how these skills and my experiences could support colleagues.
“Studying for the Master’s was intellectually and emotionally tough. The emphasis was on psychology and relationships, working to the highest standards of ethical coaching practice. It has not only developed my coaching skills but also afforded me the opportunity to scrutinise the drivers and motivations behind my career choices and integrate them into a wider appreciation of life and my ‘self’. I am incredibly proud of this achievement and conscious of the privilege afforded me.”
“In my practice as a coach, I am grateful for the opportunity to support others, whatever their life experiences, as they negotiate the challenges of being themselves, in the workplace, serving their communities.”
As well as being an Ashridge Accredited Coach, Clive is a European Mentoring and Coaching Council Senior Practitioner. He can be contacted via Trellis Coaching website.
