In this episode of Animal Health Insider, host Julie Lawless sits down with one of the true pioneers of the animal health industry: Dr. Linda Rhodes—veterinarian, scientist, entrepreneur, board director, nonprofit founder, and Hall of Famer. Linda’s story begins far from the boardroom. As one of the only female large-animal veterinarians practicing in rural Utah in the late 1970s, she faced skepticism and cultural bias every time she stepped into a barn. In a profession that questioned whether women belonged, Linda learned early what it meant to lead with grit, resilience, and quiet confidence—often proving herself for those who would follow. That foundation shaped a career spanning the founding of the first large full-service veterinary CRO in the U.S., serving as CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of Aratana Therapeutics, bringing innovations to market, and sitting on influential industry boards. In this candid conversation, we discuss: ➡️Pivotal moments in Linda’s career—from a terrifying first C-section to navigating leadership transitions from practitioner to entrepreneur to executive 🧠Vulnerability, imposter syndrome, and the personal trade-offs of being a pioneer 🏆The creation of Feather in Her Cap, the nonprofit Linda founded to elevate and recognize women whose achievements had long gone overlooked—now known as the “Oscars of Animal Health.” 📖The release of Linda’s memoir, Breaking the Barnyard Barrier, and why honest storytelling still matters What Linda hopes the next generation will carry forward Prior to Julie’s interview with Linda, she also gets the inside scoop from two animal health industry insiders --Dr. Beatrice Vos of Stonehaven Transactions and Joseph Harvey of S&P Global Animal Health. Guest Info: Dr. Linda Rhodes 🌐 https://lindarhodes.com/bio/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-rhodes-096349/ Order Her Book Here: https://lindarhodes.com/books/breaking-the-barnyard-barrier/ LawlessComms Ready to build industry influence and engage employees through strategic communications made for Animal Health? We’re here to help! 🌐 https://www.lawlesscomms.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julielawless Stonehaven Transactions With decades of commercial and legal experience in M&A and other transactions in the animal health sector, Stonehaven Transactions guides small and large life science companies and investors through buy-side or sell-side transactions, license deals and commercial collaborations, ensuring value maximization, a seamless process, optimized synergies, and long-term growth. 🌐 https://sc.group/transactions/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-beatrice-vos-4184201/ S&P Global Animal Health Beyond the headlines, S&P Global Animal Health provides expert insights for your animal health business. 🌐 https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/products-solutions/agriculture-food/animal-health LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-harvey-08109916/ About Animal Health Insider Animal Health Insider takes you behind the scenes of the Animal Health industry. Each episode starts with conversation from the “Insiders”, followed by in-depth conversations with the leaders and disruptors shaping what’s next. If you work in #AnimalHealth, #Veterinary, #Biotech, #Agtech, #Sustainability, #Investment, or #PublicPolicy, subscribe for a sharper context and real insight from the people on the inside of the industry. 🌐 Learn more at https://www.lawlesscomms.com/podcast/
