Karen Bolten, DVM, MBA
Veterinarian. Business Strategist. AI Enthusiast. Fixer of Veterinary Business Stuff.
I entered veterinary medicine believing that practicing great medicine and working hard would be enough to build a fulfilling life. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
Despite running a thriving equine practice, sleepless nights on call, and missing my pets' lives, I still found myself struggling to achieve even modest financial goals- things I thought a doctor’s income would easily cover.
Determined to find answers, I dove headfirst into business education, earning an MBA and uncovering solutions to challenges I once thought were insurmountable. Along the way, I sold my equine practice, explored unexpected corners of vet med (small animal and shelter med), and discovered a passion for solving complex problems - preferably with a touch of innovation, and a good dose of AI.
Today, I combine my veterinary experience, business expertise, and love of tech to help veterinary professionals streamline operations, attract ideal clients, and reclaim their sanity. Whether through consulting, speaking, online courses, or digital tools, my goal is simple: to make the business side of vet med less confounding and a lot more rewarding.
Because chaos isn’t a strategy - but I can help you build one that works.
What I stand for
Mission, Vision, and Core Values aren’t just boardroom wallpaper: they’re the pre-op surgical scrub. Unglamorous, underappreciated, and absolutely essential to preventing complications.
They guide decisions, define priorities, and make sure your work doesn’t just look good: it holds up under pressure.
Since I build brands rooted in purpose, it’s only fair I show you mine.
Mission Statement
To provide ethical, strategic consulting and tools that fuse veterinary insight, business clarity, and AI innovation: so smart, purpose-driven professionals can do work that actually works, without losing their sanity or their standards.
Vision Statement
To create a veterinary ecosystem where high-quality care is scalable, accessible, and sustainable—driven by strategic systems, smarter tools, and innovation that’s as ethical as it is effective.
Core Values
Integrity is Infrastructure
We don’t chase trends: we build durable foundations. Our business decisions, tech architecture, and client relationships are rooted in honesty, boundaries, and long-term impact. If it can’t withstand scrutiny, we don’t ship it. And if you can’t explain what you’re doing clearly, confidently, and with a clear conscience… maybe it’s not as defensible as you think.
Responsible Innovation
We design and deploy AI with intention. Innovation without ethics is reckless, so we build with transparency, acknowledge bias, and challenge the status quo even when no one is watching. Or, to quote the only person in Jurassic Park who saw it coming, Dr. Ian Malcolm: “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”
Excellence Without Compromise
Excellence is more than accuracy or aesthetics: it’s a way of showing up. From clinical insights to strategic plans, we bring rigor, clarity, and respect to every interaction. If it bears our name, it meets our standard. We don’t just meet expectations: we reverse-engineer them, conditional format the spreadsheet (obviously), and cite three peer-reviewed resources.
Radical Curiosity
We don’t color inside the lines – we redraw the map. Creativity, experimentation, and risk-taking are built into our DNA. Innovation often starts messy, but we honor the process that leads to paradigm-shifting results. Sometimes that includes 27 open browser tabs, 31 notepad documents, 7 Word docs, 4 Excel spreadsheets, and one existential crisis over font choices - but the fun is all in the journey, right?
Access is Power
We believe access to veterinary care is a solvable design problem. Whether it’s improving shelter workflows or empowering solo practitioners with AI, we use technology to dismantle the cost, location, and staffing barriers that hold our field back. Because access to care shouldn't rely on duct tape, good intentions, and a receptionist named Megan who hasn't taken a lunch break since 2017. Sorry about that again, Megan...
Strategic Empathy
Empathy without strategy is unsustainable. Strategy without empathy is hollow. We blend both: designing tools, systems, and stories that serve real humans, real animals, and real limitations, without losing sight of what matters. Because sometimes the kindest thing you can do is fix the broken workflow before the daily cry begins.