Kathy Lloyd reflects on her career journey, overcoming challenges, and shares her vision for leading with compassion and inclusivity at Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre.
To celebrate Black History Month, we are shining the spotlight on our very own Kathy Lloyd, the newly appointed hospital director at Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre, St Mary’s Portsmouth. Being a passionate nurse at heart, Kathy’s leadership is rooted in compassion, inclusivity, and a commitment to enhancing both patient and staff experiences.
In a recent interview, Kathy shared her story of personal and professional growth.
My career journey began in Trinidad, West Indies.
As a young teen, I knew what I didn’t want to do, but I had no clear idea of what I wanted to pursue. Back then, nursing was not considered a progressive career option in my country. However, I made the bold decision to move to the UK in 1991 to train as a nurse, inspired by two aunts who had successful careers in nursing since the 1970s.
My dad’s advice, “Take your studies to the highest level you could,” was my guiding force. After qualifying as a nurse, I pursued a degree in Health Services Management. At that point, I faced challenges to fund my education as the trust I worked for believed I was “too young and too junior” in my role.
The manager who gave me this feedback left a lasting influence on me as a leader. I learnt the importance of recognising talent, supporting ambition, engaging teams in innovative discussions and encouraging teams to deliver their best.
Throughout my various senior roles, including Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Managing Director (MD), I never lost sight of what truly drives success—people.
I believe that systems, processes, policies are all key but without the right people in the right roles with the right support, success will always be like a rainbow—something you can chase but can never catch.
For those aspiring to leadership, my advice is simple:
You know you are an amazing leader when the people you guide express gratitude for your support, for shaping their careers, and for treating them with respect. We cannot be inspirational leaders without having equally inspirational followers.
In the spirit of Black History Month, I want to honour Mary Seacole. She was an inspiring nurse whose contributions are hardly talked about in healthcare. Seacole, who was also from my part of the world — accomplished so much during a time of racial discrimination.
My journey has been shaped by resilience and compassion, and I am committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every voice is valued. At Practice Plus Group, we believe that diversity enriches our workplace and enhances the quality of care we provide.
We are immensely proud that Kathy has joined Practice Plus Group family and are looking forward to celebrating her success and accomplishments.
