Get to know our keynote Bash Halow

Bash Halow, LVT, CVPM, a veterinary practice manager and owner of Halow Consulting, works with practices nationwide to help them build stronger teams and grow their businesses. Halow, the keynote speaker at this first Fetch dvm360® conference of 2022—and the first one held in Charlotte, North Carolina—took time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions for us.

What’s your favorite aspect of the veterinary business?

Bash: It might not sound very professional, but my favorite part of this business is hanging out with the people that I work with and talking, goofing off, and laughing. Yes. Goofing off. Laughing. Nothing is wrong with that. In fact, almost all of it is always right with the obvious exceptions because if you’re looking for the right team to get a job done, pick the one that’s laughing together. They’ll be the ones that are ultimately more productive, more enjoyable to work with, and the ones that deliver the best service and care.

Which talk are you most excited to give at the conference?

I’m really excited about design thinking. Everybody should come to the design thinking sessions. No one should be without this tool. I haven’t seen it ever presented at any veterinary conferences. It’s really the source of inspiration for every major innovation in business today, and it’s coming far too late to the veterinary profession. I wish I knew about this 10 years ago. It’s an excellent tool to solve problems and to bring teams together in working through the solution.

Do you have a pre-lecture routine or ritual?

Everything I do is extemporaneous, but that kind of thing only works if you are locked into a strong through-line of thought. So before I begin, I remember the big reason why I’m talking, then I cut loose.

Can you describe a hobby you have outside the clinic?

I’m a hobby beekeeper, chicken raiser, and orchardist. Those 3 things bring me weeks—no, months—of enjoyment, learning, and satisfaction every year.

Do you have any pets?

Alas, the love of my life, Rye, a German shorthaired pointer, passed away 2 years ago. I’ve never replaced her. Now I’m focusing on human love. And I must say the jury is still out as to whether that was a step forward, a lateral move, or (gulp) a step in the wrong direction.

Who inspires you?

Grab your barf bag, here’s another one of those answers, but I’m telling the truth: I’m inspired by the amazing talent I see on TikTok. It just floors me that there is such imagination out there, such gumption, and such a wonderful way to share talent and diversity with the world.

What do you love most about Fetch dvm360® conferences?

Well, this is something like my 11th or 12th veterinary conference with Fetch [dvm360^®]. So, for me, it’s the family of educators that I work with and the support sta at Fetch in general. I work with a lot of speaking venues and a lot of di erent conferences. But I have to say that I think that the Fetch team—both behind the scenes and in front of the audience—really works very hard to create an environment and experience where we learn and have fun. It’s a wonderful prototype of learning and exploration and acceptance to take back to the practices.

I’m excited that it’s the first time in Charlotte. It’s probably going to be easy to navigate with Charlotte being such a great airport hub. I look for veterinarians a lot in my day-to-day life to help some of the practices I work with. And I have to say that North Carolina and South Carolina are…2 [out of] maybe 6 states total, that veterinarians just clamor to live in. It will be great to see what all the hullabaloo is about when we’re down in North Carolina and see what the great state of North Carolina has to offer us.

Learn more about Halow and “5 Terrible Things You’re Afraid to Admit About Your Practice” by attending his keynote session Sunday, April 24 at 8 .