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Grow with Purpose

For leaders, businesses, and organizations in the veterinary and animal health fields.

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Some of our current and past customers

Logo with a blue cross and the words "Community Veterinary Outreach"
Logo for the DVM-C Veterinary Medicine Coalition with the words 'Diversify Veterinary Medicine' next to it.
Logo for Vetor In, featuring stylized text in green with a tagline 'Achieve More Together' and circular graphic elements.
Close-up of the Deceuninck logo, featuring a stylized blue 'D' with a circular shape and the word 'Deceuninck' written underneath.
Royal Canin logo with red crown symbol above the words 'Royal Canin' in bold red letters.
Logo for the Catch Surveillance System with red and blue text and icons representing security and surveillance.

Hi, I'm Dr. Melanie Barham

Owner, Principal Consultant

I built MKB Strategic Consulting to serve the veterinary and animal health sectors, where I've spent my career. Together with my team, we focus on supporting leaders and organizations to gain clarity on their strategy, and help them implement effectively. (No use in having a strategy if it sits in a drawer).

As someone who has led companies and organizations as an executive myself, and advised many more, I know that getting clarity, alignment, and having support to lead forward confidently makes all the difference.  

If you need help with a strategic plan, strategy for your next stage of growth, facilitation of discussions that lead to alignment, or exceptional training for your team, we're here.

Book A Discovery Call

Focused on Outcomes. Built on Trust.

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Confirm Fit

It's critical that you find a thought partner who you can trust and fits.
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Timely Solutions

Get a proposal in hand quickly so you can take action for change now.
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  • Experienced strategic planning services for non-profits, businesses, and business units primarily in the animal health and veterinary spaces. 

    • Full stack strategic planning engagements including:

      • Stakeholder engagement

      • Strategic planning sessions

      • Key performance metrics

      • Implementation plans

    • Strategy days

    • Virtual and in-person delivery available

  • Design and delivery of exceptional conversations geared towards alignment and momentum to move your business or organization forward.

    • Off-site retreats

    • Full day, part day facilitated sessions

    • Workshops

    • Virtual and in-person delivery available

  • Engaging events designed to prime your team or audience for action.  Topics available for human and animal health teams.  

    • Keynote addresses

    • Lectures

    • Workshops

    • Virtual and in-person options available

  • One-on-one support for leaders in actioning purposeful growth and change with certified coaching expertise.  

    • Conflict management

    • Change management

    • Team development

    • Growth and scaling into new markets

for small businesses, startups, solopreneurs

Build Your Business

  • Help for start-ups and small businesses with their planning and strategy, focusing on outcomes that matter: clarity, action, and plans that actually get used. 

  • Access a suite of practical and customizable tools that you can put to use in your business as a leader right away.  

  • Being a leader can be lonely, but it doesn't have to be.  Enlist a thought partner who helps you grow so you can be there for your team.

  • Expert SME support for companies entering new markets, new areas of animal health and veterinary medicine with product lines.  

for leaders and mid-sized companies/non-profits

Lead Your Team

Grow Your Company

  • Help for start-ups and small businesses with their planning and strategy, focusing on outcomes that matter: clarity, action, and plans that actually get used. 

  • Access a suite of practical and customizable tools that you can put to use in your business as a leader right away.  

  • Being a leader can be lonely, but it doesn't have to be.  Enlist a thought partner who helps you grow so you can be there for your team.

  • Expert SME support for companies entering new markets, new areas of animal health and veterinary medicine with product lines.  

for businesses and larger charities

  • "Melanie's skills and experience made her the perfect coach to move me from idea to implementation. I would not have been about to launch without her!"

    — Dr. Jenna Donaldson, Founder of Trillium Equine On-Call Service, Practice Owner

  • "I initially reached out to Melanie cold via LinkedIn, drawn in by her inspiring background and clear impact across a variety of settings—from supporting students to advising company leadership. I initially engaged her to support our Medical Operations team during an offsite, helping us prioritize our extensive project load. Her facilitation gave the team real-world tools and left them energized and aligned for the year ahead. 

    The experience was so successful that I invited her back to work with our new graduates and their mentors. She guided both groups through practical tools for balance and well-being, and offered our mentors strategies to keep mentorship sustainable and rewarding. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive—many are still using her strategies today. 

    Melanie is organized, thoughtful, and incredibly effective. I’d highly recommend her for strategic planning, facilitation, or fractional executive support. She brings clarity, warmth, and action-oriented insight to every interaction." 

    — Renee McDougall, DVM, MPH, DACVS-SA, Chief Veterinary Officer, Bond Vet 

  • "Melanie's trainings were greatly beneficial to our small but mighty CAHSS staff. We were really able to focus in on project management and finding ways to reduce redundancy in order to highlight the great work of our team without overburdening them with repetitive tasks. Of particular usefulness was the development of modular content, using the work our team was doing now to help complete future projects (i.e. using monthly reports to generate your annual report). This has allowed our team to develop ways to highlight what we have been doing while also ensuring that we can use what we develop now in future projects and communications. This has increased our engagement while reducing our overall workload. I'd recommend MKB Strategic Consulting for anyone who is looking to get more out of the work they are doing!" 

    — Dr. Murray Gillies, CAHSS Interim Director,Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System

  • “Working with Melanie has honestly changed my life. With kindness and unwavering support, she has helped me grow a very hazy dream into a reality. She knows just the right questions to ask to get me thinking in the right way and taking steps towards my goal. She is realistic and honest yet inspiring and a bit of a dreamer herself, in all the best ways. I would recommend Melanie to anyone who is looking to branch out, take a risk, and start something on their own.” 

    — Dr. Chloe Roberts

  • "Dr Melanie Barham’s guidance in developing our practice's formal mentorship program was integral in giving our new graduate hires as well as our externship students an organized and balanced experience in mixed animal practice.

    Her focus on timely check ins to facilitate ongoing progress in accordance with our set timelines was so critical to achieving our goals for our practice and this program specifically.

    The approach taken by Dr. Barham taught me new skills as a business owner and veterinarian in project management I can take forward to benefit my practice as a whole and directly in my career. Thanks so much for your partnership!"

    — Dr. Robyn Thompson, Partner, Walkerton-Hanover Veterinary Corporation

  • "Dr Barham provided an interactive and informative session with our veterinary group. She facilitated discussions regarding difficult topics, drawing out experiences and steering us forward with tools to we can utilize in daily practice."

    - Dr. Tamara Lightbody, President, Kawartha Veterinary Association 

  • "This was an outstanding event given by Dr Barham. Melanie was able to channel the confusion, fear, and uncertainty into constructive energy to think about what one needs in the next job and how to get there. Just an outstanding job. A big thank you from NAFV.”

    -Dr. Joe Annelli, Executive Vice President, National Association of Federal Veterinarians