From Questions to Confidence: How VLE Shaped My Journey

Leadership doesn’t always begin with a title. Sometimes, it begins with a campfire conversation. Or on a dock overlooking still water. Or over a plate of freshly baked cookies shared with people you just met — who somehow feel like lifelong friends by the end of the week.

It’s hard to capture what the Veterinary Leadership Experience (VLE) truly is unless you’ve been there. It’s a weeklong immersive program designed for veterinary professionals to grow as leaders, collaborators, and humans — through reflection, vulnerability, and hands-on learning.

And it’s where my leadership story really began.

🔍 Asking Better Questions

The most powerful thing I took from my first VLE wasn’t a title or technique — it was a skill that became a habit: asking open-ended questions.

Instead of jumping in with advice, I started learning to create space for others. Questions like, “What’s most important to you right now?” or “How do you feel about this situation?” gave people permission to speak from the heart — and helped me listen with intention.

That small shift transformed how I practice, coach, and lead. It’s how I connect in exam rooms, in team meetings, and even in AVMA boardrooms. I lead best when I listen deeply, when I slow down, and when I help others find their voice — not just my own.

🤝 The People Who Shaped Me

And it wasn’t just the questions that stayed with me — it was the people I asked them alongside.

At VLE, you arrive as strangers and leave as something more. There’s a shared language, a common mission, and a surprising depth to the connections formed during team challenges, partner shares, and laughter. Some of the people I met during that week still check in regularly. We’ve celebrated big wins, supported each other through tough moments, and even shared a secret handshake or two.

Not every VLE relationship becomes that deep — but all of them carry a sense of shared experience. A reminder that you’re not alone in this profession. And that kind of support becomes vital as you grow into bigger roles. Community and connection matter.

🌱 From Technician to AVMA Candidate

When I attended VLE, I was just about to graduate vet school and step into my first job as a veterinarian. The twist? It was at the same mixed animal practice where I had worked for years as a credentialed veterinary technician. I needed to show up differently — not as “Technician Jen,” but as “Dr. Jen Quammen.”

VLE helped me make that shift. It gave me the space to reflect, the courage to grow, and the tools to lead with empathy and clarity. And that confidence carried me forward — into the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association, into several volunteer roles with AVMA, into my term as AVMA Vice President, and now, into my candidacy for AVMA President-Elect.

But I didn’t do it alone. I carried that VLE community with me. I still do.

From the VLE community to my experience in the AVMA Future Leader program, to friends I met in the Uncharted Veterinary Community, these people continue to challenge me, ground me, and remind me who I am — and why I lead.

💬 Final Thoughts

If you’re standing on the edge of something new — whether it’s your first year out of school or your first shot at leadership — my advice is simple: Start small.

Ask better questions. Say yes to the invitation. Sign up for the workshop. Show up — even if you feel uncertain.

Because the most meaningful community might be waiting in a place you didn’t expect.

It might even come with a cookie. 🍪