Dr. Jyothi V. Robertson

Professional Biography 

Dr. Jyothi V. Robertson is a veterinarian, global consultant, and respected thought leader with more than two decades of diverse experience in the animal sector. She is internationally recognized for her visionary perspective on animal health, well-being, leadership, and the human–animal bond. Her engaging presence has made her a sought-after keynote speaker on both broad and highly specialized topics across the world.

Dr. Robertson earned her DVM from UC Davis, where she also completed a three-year residency in shelter medicine. Her career began in 1998, starting as a groomer and kennel assistant before working as a veterinary assistant, full-time veterinarian, and ultimately the medical director of a municipal animal care and control agency. These experiences gave her a deep understanding of the complex realities of animal welfare work at every level.

In 2011, she founded JVR Strategies to help organizations reimagine sheltering, improve animal health outcomes, expand access to veterinary care, and plan for the future in a rapidly changing landscape. Her expertise includes designing success metrics, conducting community research, analyzing data, and supporting both nonprofit and governmental agencies across the United States and internationally.

Her professional interests include shelter medicine, access to veterinary care, organizational design, and the emotional and mental well-being of mission-driven professionals. She continues to bridge the worlds of science, systems thinking, and human-centered leadership.

In 2015, she created Journey You Own (JYO) as a passion project to raise awareness about the interdependent nature of animal welfare work and the importance of grounding practices. JYO has since grown into a fiscally sponsored nonprofit that supports individuals and organizations through meditation, leadership development, and values-based reflective practices.

As an educator and speaker, Dr. Robertson has delivered more than 50 keynote addresses and presentations across five continents, most recently offering a keynote welcome to an audience of over 2,500 attendees. Her work continues to inspire leaders, strengthen organizations, and catalyze meaningful change within and beyond the animal sector.

Cultural Biography 

I am a spiritually minded, cisgender East-Indian woman who has lived in the United States for more than 40 years. My identity is shaped by two worlds: the deep traditions of Indian Hindu culture and the achievement-driven environment of the modern Western landscape.

I was born in Switzerland, where Telugu and French were my first languages, before moving to rural Wisconsin. Growing up in a homogenous community that did not reflect the way I looked or spoke shaped much of my early understanding of belonging. My older brother was my closest companion, and together we navigated a society that often struggled to accept our immigrant family, despite my parents’ academic accomplishments. Their perseverance continues to guide my work today.

A defining part of my childhood came from my mother’s commitment to exposing me to spiritual texts and practices. I lived with neurological and cardiac conditions that shaped my early years, and in 1987, my parents took me to an ashram in India seeking healing. That experience stayed with me and later inspired the cultural anthropology fieldwork I conducted as an adult when I returned to the same ashram. These spiritual roots—and my ongoing Buddhist practice—continue to inform the way I hold conversations about justice, healing, climate impact, and community transformation.

My family heritage also shapes my understanding of privilege and responsibility. My paternal grandfather worked on rice plantations in a small Indian village without electricity or plumbing, yet he prioritized education for all six of his children. This commitment eventually enabled them to immigrate to the U.S. My maternal great-grandparents were educators alongside Gandhi and championed education for their daughter during a time when it was rare. I grew up knowing both of my grandmothers, who encouraged my curiosity and expansive interests. I reflect often on caste, privilege, and how these forces have influenced generations, including my own.

The Journey You Own represents the path I have traveled and the values inherited from those before me. It is a space for learning, questioning, and deepening awareness.

Today, I continue to explore the world with my husband and our three children whenever possible. Travel keeps us curious and connected. Curiosity fuels insight. Compassion deepens awareness. Courage supports growth. These are the values that guide how I live, work, and lead, and they continue to shape the work I do in service of animals, people, and communities.