Leading with purpose: Optometry's leaders discuss influence, growth and future

Everyone's leadership path looks different. For some, it's a cold-start practice. For others, it's taking on an unexpected challenge. But nearly every journey has one thing in common—it starts with saying "yes." 

During a fireside chat conversation at Optometry's Meeting® in Phoenix, AOA Immediate Past President Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D., and MyEyeDr. CEO and co-founder Sue Downes reflected on those moments that shaped their careers and influenced their leadership journeys. In a session titled, "Leading with Purpose: Influence, Growth and Impact in Optometry," Dr. Bowen and Downes shared a clear message with the 2,600 future optometrists in the AOA+ session: the future has hardly been brighter for optometry, so get involved now. 

The following is a brief Q&A summary of Dr. Bowen and Downes' conversation, edited for brevity and clarity with the help of AI. 

What first shaped your leadership journey? 

Dr. Bowen recalled accepting a board position with the Colorado Optometric Association, only later to discover she was not the first person asked. Rather than feeling discouraged, she embraced the lesson. 

"The right people end up in the right place at the right time," Dr. Bowen said. "If you're open and thinking and wise, you're going to do the right thing and be in the right place." 

Downes added that leadership is not defined by one role, but it evolves over time as organizations and people grow. 

"I don't think leadership style is ever truly defined," Downes said. "I think it's a journey. I have to keep listening and learning and taking feedback. What worked then does not always work now." 

What experiences built your confidence as a leader? 

For Dr. Bowen, purchasing a practice at age 26 required balancing clinical expertise with leading an established team through change. 

"I couldn't just go in there like a bull in a China shop," Dr. Bowen said. "I had to read the room and pay attention. I messed up a lot but learned from all of those mistakes." 

Downes reflected on her own career, beginning behind the front desk. That's where she learned every aspect of practice operations before eventually launching MyEyeDr. 

"Be intentional about where you want to go," Downes noted. "If you're not uncomfortable applying for it, then you're not ready for it." 

What leadership qualities matter most for new doctors? 

While technical and clinical expertise is essential, both Dr. Bowen and Downes emphasized that leadership depends on relationships. 

Downes: "Hands down, people skills. I am in a people business. Because without the incredible team and people that we have, it doesn't matter how great we are at delivering it." 

Dr. Bowen: "If you are asked or inspired to do something, just say yes. You'll figure it out." 

How do you lead while embracing rapid change? 

Both Downes and Dr. Bowen acknowledged that the rapid pace of AI development and other emerging technologies are reshaping healthcare at a rapid pace. But they emphasized that values remain the core foundation of leading through change. 

In Downes' view, leaders should embrace innovation without losing sight of their principles. 

"You have to understand your core values. You have to understand your non-negotiables ... and understand what to trust and how to lean in," Downes said. 

Dr. Bowen also noted that information now reaches patients faster than ever, requiring doctors to adapt quickly. 

"Patients are coming to us with news that we haven't heard yet in some cases," Dr. Bowen said. "It can be intimidating. But that is definitely a way in real time that I am having to adjust." 

What is the most important lesson you have learned about leadership? 

Mistakes often become a leader's greatest teacher, agreed Dr. Bowen and Downes. It's about owning missteps instead of fearing them. In other words, having courage. 

"Those are the moments that define you," Downes said. "How you overcome that, how you own it and how you grow out of it." 

Added Dr. Bowen: "It takes courage that sometimes you don't think you have." 

What gives you hope for the future of optometry? 

Dr. Bowen and Downes ended their conversation on an optimistic note about the future of the profession. Despite change and uncertainty, this is a moment that requires collaboration and fresh ideas that future leaders in the room will have the privilege of influencing. 

"The profession is at a new tipping point," Downes said. "Our patients need us more and differently than they've ever needed. So, I'm excited about the future of it." 

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