Dental Leaders Podcast

Nutritional scientist Dr Federica Amati shares her journey from aspiring medical student to becoming head nutritionist at Zoe. She discusses the importance of evidence-based nutrition, the challenges of public health communication, and the complexities of dietary advice in the age of social media.  Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, Amati emphasises the value of consistent, varied eating patterns and the critical role of prevention in public health. In This Episode 00:00:25 - Introduction and early education background 00:01:25 - Medical school aspirations and pivot to biomedical sciences 00:08:25 - Career transition to public health and prevention 00:16:25 - Journey through hospitality and marketing in New York 00:21:45 - Return to academia and pursuing a PhD 00:23:15 - Balancing motherhood with academic pursuits 00:33:00 - Role at Zoe and nutrition science 00:39:45 - Mediterranean diet and carbohydrate quality 00:56:35 - Social media, nutrition misinformation, and professional responsibility 01:08:35 - Perspectives on weight loss medication 01:09:30 - Vision for the future of nutrition and public health About Federica Amati Dr Federica Amati is a nutrition scientist who holds a PhD in clinical medicine research and serves as the head nutritionist at Zoe. She combines her expertise in public health, medical science, and nutrition to promote evidence-based dietary advice. Currently, she holds a teaching role as the nutrition lead in the School of Medicine and works clinically as an AFN registered nutritionist.

Claire Nightingale, a consultant orthodontist and former practice owner, shares her remarkable journey through dentistry spanning over three decades.  From her early experiences as a patient that sparked her interest in dentistry, through to her recent venture into stand-up comedy, Claire offers candid insights into practice ownership, clinical excellence, and embracing change in orthodontics.  She discusses her transition from NHS to private practice, her pioneering adoption of Invisalign and digital dentistry, and her recent experience selling to a corporate group.  In This Episode 00:01:45 - Early career influences and becoming an orthodontist 00:04:15 - Digital dentistry adoption and Invisalign journey 00:09:35 - Evolution of aligner treatment 00:12:15 - NHS training challenges and future of orthodontics 00:33:25 - Practice ownership journey 00:42:10 - Keys to running a successful business 00:49:55 - Selling to a corporate group 01:04:35 - Women's Dentist Network 01:21:55 - Blackbox thinking 01:24:00 - Life after practice sale 01:57:15 - Stand-up comedy venture 02:02:15 - Fantasy dinner party guests 02:03:50 - Last days and legacy About Claire Nightingale Claire Nightingale is a consultant orthodontist at Watford General Hospital and private practitioner with over 25 years of specialist experience.  A pioneer in digital orthodontics and remote monitoring, she successfully built and sold Queensgate Orthodontics while maintaining her NHS consultant role. Claire is actively involved in the Women's Dentist Network and recently embarked on a new chapter combining expert witness work with stand-up comedy.

In this engaging episode, longtime dental industry professional Joe Lovett shares his journey from his early days at FMC Publications to founding his own consulting business, Catalyst.  He discusses the evolution of dental media, the importance of maintaining authentic relationships in business, and his passion for helping young dentists advance their careers.  Through candid stories and reflections, Joe offers insights into corporate culture, ethical business practices, and the changing landscape of dental industry networking.  In This Episode 00:03:05 - Fitness and mental health 00:07:40 - Business, sales and ethics 00:10:50 - Early career 00:24:30 - Fast Tracking Your Future 00:33:50 - Dental and social media 00:46:45 - Corporate culture 00:56:50 - Consulting and relationship building 01:17:35 - Career challenges and lessons learned 01:24:10 - Looking ahead 01:27:25 - Closing questions About Joe Lovett Joe Lovett is a prominent dental industry consultant and founder of Catalyst, specialising in helping international dental companies enter the UK market and mentoring the next generation of dental professionals.  With nearly two decades of experience in dental media and business development, beginning at FMC Publications in 2008, Joe has established himself as a trusted advisor and connector within the dental community.

After building a successful hospitality empire in London, including venues like Rum Kitchen and Island Poké, Alex Potter found himself feeling empty—despite external success.  A profound spiritual awakening led him to leave his business empire and divorce, embarking on a path of self-discovery through breathwork, plant medicine, and coaching.  Now, through his company Kaizn, he helps leaders reconnect with their authentic selves through innovative retreats and coaching programmes that blend ancient wisdom with modern practices. In This Episode 00:00:40 - Early life and acting career 00:05:35 - First entrepreneurial ventures in nightlife 00:23:00 - Building the hospitality empire 00:31:25 - Spiritual awakening through breathwork 00:39:35 - Transitioning away from business success 00:54:15 - Understanding Internal Family Systems 01:10:15 - Rites of passage 01:21:35 - The Kaizn approach to transformation 01:24:25 - Holistic healing versus traditional therapy 01:27:55 - Connecting with the inner child About Alex Potter A London native and former actor turned hospitality entrepreneur, Alex Potter built and ran multiple successful venues, including Rum Kitchen, Island Poké, and Ping.  After experiencing burnout and a spiritual awakening, he trained extensively in coaching, breathwork, and plant medicine.  Today, he runs Kaizn, an interdisciplinary coaching company specialising in transformative experiences and retreats.

Riaz Sharif shares his incredible journey from growing up in the foster care system to becoming a successful dental professional. He opens up about the challenges of his childhood as an orphan, his determination to pursue dentistry despite numerous setbacks, and his experiences studying abroad in Hungary and Slovakia.  In This Episode 00:01:55 - Backstory 00:08:35 - Boxing 00:13:45 - Study 00:19:00 - Personal challenges 00:24:25 - Return to the UK 00:29:10 -Social media presence and marketing 00:47:45 - Blackbox thinking 00:56:30 - Aspirations 01.03.40 - Fantasy dinner party 01:09:15 - Last days and legacy About Riaz Sharif Riaz Sharif is a UK-based dentist and finalist for multiple industry awards, including the Private Dentistry Awards. Riaz brings a unique perspective to dentistry shaped by his background in boxing and personal training, along with his commitment to mentoring the next generation of dental professionals.

In this solo episode of the Dental Leaders podcast, Prav Solanki reflects on the past year and shares his plans for 2025, focusing on personal growth, public speaking, and health and wellness. He discusses the challenges faced by dental practices in marketing and competition, emphasizing the importance of a robust sales process and conversion strategies. Prav highlights niche marketing opportunities, particularly for nervous patients and children's orthodontics, and predicts a positive trend in dental practice acquisitions for the coming year. He concludes with insights on evidence-based wellness and the importance of foundational health practices. In This Episode 00:00 - Planning for 202505:42 - Dental Marketing and Competition12:45 - Sales Process & Conversion Strategies19:03 - Niche Marketing26:37 - Future Trends in Dental Practice Acquisitions34:12 - Evidence-Based Wellness and Health Goals About Prav Solanki Prav Solanki is a marketing scientist and dental growth specialist who has supported countless dental professionals and organisations to achieve stellar growth. He is a co-owner and director of IAS Academy and founder of The Fresh, the UK's leading dental growth and marketing agency. His latest project, Leadflo, is described as the world's most advanced CRM for dental clinics.

Dentist and legal expert Simon Thackeray discusses his route from NHS to private practice, his involvement in dental politics, and his role as a founder member of BAPD (British Association of Private Dentistry).  He offers valuable insights into the challenges faced by private dentists during COVID-19 and shares candid thoughts about the profession's future direction.  The discussion covers everything from practice management and patient care to broader societal issues affecting dentistry. In This Episode 02:00 - Backstory 03:35 - BAPD formation 07:45 - COVID - international approaches 13:35 - NHS dentistry 21:25 - Class and social mobility 31:30 - Legislation and governance 42:10 - Young dentists and private practice 52:15 - Career and practice ownership 54:35 - From NHS to private practice 1:14:00 - Commoditisation and ethics 1:21:45 - Education and public messaging 1:26:35 - Blackbox thinking 1:32:00 - Closing questions About Simon Thackeray Simon Thackeray is a prominent private dentist based in Mansfield who holds a master's degree in law and serves as a founder member of the British Association of Private Dentists (BAPD), which he helped establish during the COVID-19 pandemic. After qualifying in 1991, he worked in several NHS practices before purchasing his own practice and transitioning to fully private care in 2006.

Dental students Lwai Almasri and Saif Mukadam discuss their journeys into dentistry, their experiences at King's College London, and their creation of the UK Dental Students network.  The conversation covers Saif's unique path from professional football to dentistry, the challenges of dental school, and their ambitious plans for organising a "Top 50 Dental Students" event.  They provide valuable insights into modern dental education, including the impact of online learning and the competitive nature of dental school. In This Episode 01:30 - Backstory 05:15 - Student life 16:45 - Family background 19:25 - Living in London 24:15 - UK Dental Students Network 31:25 - Clinical experience 55:25 - Top 50 Dental Students plans1: 20:00 - Goals and aspirations 1:34:35 - Family and siblings About Lwai Almasri and Saif Mukadam Lwai Almasri is a third-year dental student at King's College London whose parents are both dentists. Saif Mukadam took an unconventional path to dentistry, first pursuing a career as a professional footballer at Walsall FC for two years before joining King's College London as a dental student, where he and Lwai co-founded the UK Dental Students network, now the largest community of dental students in the country.

Rhona Eskander and Payman chat with Adeola Gboyega, a renowned makeup artist and beauty expert with over a decade of industry experience.  The conversation delves deep into representation in the beauty industry, mental health challenges content creators face, and the evolution of social media's impact on business.  Adeola shares her journey from traditional education to becoming a successful makeup artist and content creator while discussing important topics like the pay gap for black creators and the importance of authenticity in building a community. In This Episode 00:01:45 - Backstory 00:03:30 - Early career 00:04:55 - Beauty standards 00:09:30 - Social media and the beauty industry 00:11:20 - Reflections on Black Lives Matter 00:12:25 - Ethnicity and pay gaps 00:15:00 - Nigeria and Nollywood 00:20:35 - Therapy and mental health 00:36:05 - The beauty industry 00:42:35 - Content creation 00:52:15 - Future plans and closing thoughts About Adeola Gboyega Adeola Gboyega is a seasoned makeup artist and beauty expert with over a decade of industry experience. She is known for her skin-first philosophy and collaborations with prominent beauty brands, including Bobbi Brown and Pat McGrath.  As a successful content creator and beauty educator, she has built a devoted community of "glow getters".

Emerging dental leader Yewande Oduwole shares her inspiring journey from Nigeria to becoming an award-winning dentist in the UK. She opens up about her challenging childhood, faith-driven approach to life, and her mission to increase representation in dentistry through social media and the Black Dental Network.  The conversation spans her innovative approach to dental practice, her social media influence, and her experiences with brand partnerships while touching on valuable clinical insights and lessons learned from early career challenges. In This Episode 00:01:50 - Backstory 00:24:45 - Dental school 00:27:55 - Building a personal brand 00:29:25 - Early work 00:34:00 - Foundation training 00:39:35 - Current practice 00:52:35 - Social media 00:56:00 - Brand partnerships and ambassador roles 01:05:55 - Blackbox thinking 01:15:35 - The Black Dental Network About Yewande Oduwole Yewande Oduwole is an award-winning dentist and influential voice in UK dentistry. She is known for her work in increasing representation within the profession through social media and as a core member of the Black Dental Network. A graduate of Peninsula Dental School, she has established herself as a respected clinician at Two Green Dental while also serving as a brand ambassador and mentor.