New for 2026

ELEVATE

The Veterinary Technician Leadership Academy
Leadership is a contact sport.

A selective leadership academy for early-career veterinary technicians. Twelve people, six months, one cohort that grows together.

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Why this exists

Every profession needs its next generation of leaders, and ours is no different. Early-career veterinary technicians step into the field full of instinct and drive, but almost no one is formally taught how to lead. Many have never seen healthy leadership modeled consistently. ELEVATE changes that.

ELEVATE is a high-touch leadership experience, not a passive class. Over six months, a cohort of twelve builds the presence, communication, and confidence to lead, along with a real connection to the wider veterinary community. It is an investment in the people who will carry the profession forward.

What you'll build

Leadership identity
Self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and knowing how others experience you.
Communication & influence
Ask better questions, listen for what is not said, and influence without authority.
Confidence under pressure
Trust, feedback, and staying grounded through the hard conversations.
Professional contribution
Represent the profession well and find your first real way to move it forward.

Format & timeline

ELEVATE runs for six months, and it is built around showing up. It begins with a two-day in-person kickoff at the Veterinary Leadership Conference in January, where the cohort forms and the foundation is set. From February through June, the group meets for monthly one-hour virtual sessions, each focused on a single leadership skill, with peer pods keeping the work alive in between. It closes with two days of learning and a graduation ceremony at AVMA in July, where each participant presents a capstone leadership contribution.

Along the way, you get access to respected leaders from across veterinary medicine, a coach, a peer pod, and a cohort you keep long after graduation.

January kickoff to July graduation
Two in-person anchors, monthly virtual sessions, and a cohort of twelve.

Who it's for

ELEVATE is built for early-career veterinary technicians, from final-year students to about five years past earning the credential. It is selective and application-based, and the cohort is capped at twelve, small on purpose so every voice is heard, and every person is known.

You do not need a title or a long resume to belong here. What matters is the leadership you are ready to grow. Prior time as a veterinary assistant or in another practice role is an asset, not a barrier.

Academy Director

ELEVATE is led by an Academy Director who guides the cohort from the January kickoff through graduation in July.

Heather Pendergast
Synergie Consulting LLC

Be first to know

Applications open soon, and this cohort is small. Add your name, and we will make sure you hear the moment the door opens.

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ELEVATE: The Veterinary Technician Leadership Academy. Growing the leaders who will carry the profession forward.