Dental Leaders Podcast

Prav Solanki & Payman Langroudi
  • 4.9 (110)
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The Dental Leaders podcast takes you on a behind the scenes journey with emerging leaders in dentistry. Success leaves clues, and these conversations uncover the depth, detail, and backstory behind our guests. The show is hosted by dental entrepreneurs Payman Langroudi & Prav Solanki. Let the conversation flow. Find out more at https://www.dentalleaders.co.uk/

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    #341 Underestimated — Rawa Jawad Quinn

    Rawa Jawad Quinn is a dentist-turned-tech founder whose restless energy and refusal to be underestimated have shaped every chapter of her career. In this episode, she tells Payman about growing up in Chelsea after her Iraqi family fled Kuwait with nothing, studying in Liverpool, and working across 16 dental practices before channelling her frustrations into Medicube — a consent and patient communication platform built to give associates the consistency they've never had. The conversation takes some wonderfully unexpected detours into quantum physics, telepathy, AI-driven futures and the spiritual experiences that Rawa can't quite explain but absolutely trusts. There's also plenty of practical wisdom on occlusion, practice culture and what it really takes to bootstrap a dental tech start-up while raising a three-year-old without a nanny. In This Episode 00:00:45 – Introduction and welcome 00:01:25 – Growing up on the Kings Road and childhood in Chelsea 00:03:30 – Studying dentistry in Liverpool and reinvention 00:07:00 – Dyslexia diagnosis and learning differently 00:10:10 – The itch beyond dentistry 00:14:00 – Fleeing Kuwait, starting over in the UK 00:16:25 – Why her parents' medical careers put her off medicine 00:18:05 – Ambition, being underestimated and self-belief 00:23:15 – Spirituality, connectedness and trusting intuition 00:26:10 – Wanting it all — motherhood, marriage and a start-up 00:31:00 – Lessons from 16 dental practices 00:36:25 – Working in corporates and at Bupa 00:41:20 – NHS vs private practice 00:45:15 – The birth of Medicube 00:48:30 – How Medicube works and pilot results 00:55:55 – Finding a co-founder and the UCL connection 00:58:50 – Funding through grants, awards and bootstrapping 01:03:25 – AI, the Turing test and the future of work 01:10:25 – Robots, relationships and what makes us human 01:22:55 – Physics, multiverse theory and keeping an open mind 01:28:40 – Blackbox thinking 01:33:40 – A patient with buyer's remorse after crown preps 01:36:55 – Occlusion, full mouth rehabs and the Dawson Academy 01:43:20 – Tech conferences and the reality of being a founder 01:47:05 – Fantasy dinner party About Rawa Jawad Quinn Rawa Jawad Quinn is a dentist based in Belfast, currently working at Bupa, with a particular interest in full mouth rehabilitation cases. She is also the co-founder of Medicube, a dental tech platform that streamlines consent, treatment planning and patient communication. Rawa trained at the Dawson Academy and Chris Hall's programme, and has worked across 16 practices spanning NHS, private and corporate settings.

    1hr 55min

  2. 29 APR

    #340 Exit at the Peak — Andy Acton

    Andy Acton returns to the Dental Leaders hot seat for a proper deep-cut conversation about the business of owning a dental practice — from first purchase right through to the exit.  Payman and Andy cover the current market (spoiler: banks still love dentists, and buyers far outnumber sellers), before getting into the real meat of the episode: owner fatigue. Andy breaks down the five categories of burnout he's observed across 25 years of working with practice owners, and it's the kind of honest, unglamorous stuff that rarely gets aired.  There's also a brilliant success story about a single-surgery practice that became a near-£2 million sale in four years, plus some sharp advice on what not to do in your first month of ownership.  Whether you're thinking about buying, selling, or just trying to work out why you're so tired, this one's well worth your time. In This Episode 00:00:50 – Andy's business portfolio and the FTA family of companies 00:03:10 – Market snapshot: supply, demand and the state of play in December 2025 00:04:15 – Squats vs acquisitions 00:07:35 – What buyers are really looking for 00:10:15 – Occupancy levels and the case for maximising before expanding 00:13:10 – Corporates vs independents: deal structures and flexibility 00:17:10 – Patient attrition when the owner leaves 00:20:25 – Horror stories and success stories: flipping practices 00:28:15 – Young dentists buying early and the bank of mum and dad 00:31:05 – Would Andy encourage his kids to become dentists? 00:33:20 – Owner fatigue: five categories of burnout 00:35:25 – How valuation methods have evolved over 25 years 00:42:45 – Raising finance and banking terms 00:45:45 – The ownership lifecycle and signs of fatigue 00:55:55 – Sales readiness: the checklist 01:05:30 – Business education and the case for teaching it at school 01:13:05 – Understanding financial accounts and key KPIs 01:18:25 – Quick-fire: favourite business book, business hero, and the green lights philosophy 01:25:15 – Dental leaders who inspire Andy 01:32:25 – Fly on the wall moment: the Man United treble changing room About Andy Acton Andy Acton is co-founder of Frank Taylor Associates, one of the UK's leading dental practice sales and valuation firms. Alongside his business partner Chris, Andy has built a portfolio of dental-focussed businesses, including FTA Finance, FTA Media, FTA Wealth, and the Principals Club — a members-only community for independent practice owners. He has worked in the dental sector for over 25 years.

    1hr 36min

  3. 24 APR

    Mind Movers #49 — Vanita Rattan

    In this lively and layered episode of Mind Movers, Vanita Rattan joins Rhona and Payman to talk about medicine, entrepreneurship, motherhood and the sheer force of personality it takes to build something different. She traces her path from UCL medical school to formulating skincare for skin of colour, then opening clinics around the world before Covid forced a brutal pivot into social media and direct-to-consumer growth. What follows is not just a business story. It is a conversation about dyslexia, immigrant pressure, obsession, sacrifice, miscarriage, ambition and the cost of always operating in warrior mode. Honest, sharp and occasionally uncomfortable, this one goes well beyond skincare. In This Episode00:01:15 - Medicine to formulation00:02:05 - Building global clinics00:05:05 - Covid and the pivot00:06:20 - Community over following00:10:25 - Crisis mode and grit00:15:00 - Opportunity cost thinking00:20:15 - Dyslexia and determination00:27:25 - Business, children and sacrifice00:31:00 - Money, ambition and power00:56:25 - Miscarriage and autopilot About Vanita RattanVanita Rattan is a medical doctor, cosmetic formulator and entrepreneur focused on skincare for skin of colour. After qualifying in medicine at UCL, she trained in formulation, built the Hyperpigmentation Clinic into an international business, and later grew a highly engaged skincare brand through education-led content and direct community input. She is known for combining science, straight talking and a clear mission to serve women who have long been overlooked by mainstream beauty.

    1hr 7min

  4. 22 APR

    #339 Crack On — Ali Hashemizadeh

    At just 27, Ali Hashemizadeh is doing things most dentists twice his age haven't managed — two private associate roles, a growing reputation as an endodontist, and the kind of self-awareness that usually takes a decade to develop.  In this episode, Payman sits down with the Newcastle-based, Aberdeen-raised, Iranian dentist to trace the path from a rocky first year on the NHS to finding his feet in private practice.  Ali talks candidly about the complaint that rocked him early in his career, the perspective shift it forced, and why he's genuinely glad it happened. It's a conversation about curiosity, resilience, and the quiet power of just cracking on. In This Episode 00:00:50 – Introduction: Ali Hashemizadeh 00:03:45 – Lifelong learning 00:07:25 – The future of dental events 00:14:30 – Optimism as a work philosophy 00:15:35 – NHS complaint, first job 00:19:40 – Resilience and perspective 00:21:10 – Going private early 00:22:25 – Becoming the endo guy 00:25:55 – Generalist or specialist? 00:26:50 – The disease of the twenties 00:28:30 – Iranian roots in Aberdeen 00:38:15 – Foundation year in London 00:40:55 – Outdoor pursuits and Ironman training 00:46:10 – CBCT and safe-ended files 00:50:05 – Endo, implants and aesthetics under one roof 00:52:00 – Treatment coordinators and ethical selling 00:57:15 – The value of mentorship 00:59:00 – Networking and landing the jobs 01:02:55 – The two practices compared 01:07:35 – Lucas Lassman and the most inspiring lecture 01:10:40 – Dental resources: YouTube and Instagram 01:15:10 – Being Mortal and Man's Search for Meaning 01:16:30 – Modern Wisdom and guilty pleasures 01:22:35 – Ten-year plan 01:27:40 – Fantasy dinner party About Ali Hashemizadeh Ali Hashemizadeh is a 27-year-old private associate dentist working across two practices in the northeast of England — Middleton Saint George Dental in Darlington and Ken Harris's clinic in Sunderland — where he has developed a particular focus on endodontics. Born and raised in Aberdeen to Iranian parents, he qualified from Newcastle University and completed his foundation year in London before heading back north.

    1hr 32min

  5. 15 APR

    #338 Show, Don’t Tell — Grant Goodstein

    Grant Goodstein isn't a dentist — and that might be exactly why this episode is so refreshing. An American tech exec turned practice owner, Grant moved to London for love (a Hannah Montana-inspired trip to LA, a dating app, and a last-minute Vegas concert, if you can believe it) and ended up buying a mixed NHS practice in Fulham with his wife, Leah.  What follows is a masterclass in what happens when someone with zero clinical background but serious business chops walks into a neighbourhood dental practice and starts asking, "What do patients actually want?"  From GBT machines and AI phone systems to living wage accreditation and obsessing over Wi-Fi signal strength in the toilet, Grant's approach is equal parts Silicon Valley hustle and genuine community spirit. In This Episode 00:01:00 – Meeting Leah: dating apps, Hannah Montana and a spontaneous trip to Vegas 00:06:15 – London vs Los Angeles 00:08:25 – Growing up sports-obsessed and working for Michigan basketball 00:13:10 – Coaching rituals and building team enthusiasm 00:15:25 – Buying the practice: staff turnover, evolution vs revolution 00:19:35 – Practice valuations then and now 00:22:05 – Listening to patients and expanding hygiene 00:26:10 – Running a mixed practice: the case for keeping NHS 00:32:20 – Growing Invisalign from 20 to 100 cases a year 00:34:10 – Genuine interest, patient conversations and the "daughter test" 00:36:10 – The search for the right practice 00:41:20 – Nervous patients and the patient experience 00:43:35 – Investing in GBT and premium hygiene 00:49:40 – Learning when and how to say no 00:55:25 – Tech stack: CareStack, VoIP, AI transcription and remote hiring 01:02:45 – Reception as a revenue driver 01:06:25 – Training, role plays and AI for SOPs 01:09:20 – High-performing teams: sports analogies in practice 01:11:30 – Blackbox thinking 01:15:20 – Refurb lessons and driving urgency 01:18:50 – Finding purpose after tech burnout 01:21:15 – Favourite business books 01:24:50 – Fantasy dinner party 01:31:15 – Leah's fearless flyer course and treating nervous patients About Grant Goodstein Grant Goodstein is the managing director of Pearly Whites dental practice in Fulham, London, which he co-owns with his wife, dentist Leah Goodstein. A University of Michigan economics graduate, Grant previously worked in tech — including a stint at Twitter — before moving to the UK and channelling his business background into practice ownership.

    1hr 37min

  6. 8 APR

    #337 Extraordinary Experiences — Mehy Lo Presti

    Mehy Lo Presti joins Payman on the podcast for a wide-ranging conversation that's equal parts origin story and quiet manifesto. Raised in the heartland of La Mancha by a Palestinian father and Italian mother, Mehy arrived in London in 2015 with barely any English, no NHS number, and — as it turns out — very little interest in following the conventional path.  He's since built a reputation not just as a restorative associate but as one of dentistry's most creative event and experience designers, currently channelling that energy into Dent Town, a major immersive dental conference launching this September.  The conversation ranges freely across the fear culture surrounding the GDC, the science of patient experience design, and the painful economics of putting on events that are actually good — before landing somewhere unexpectedly personal, as Mehy opens up about the impact of October 7th on his family and his mental health in the weeks surrounding his daughter's birth. In This Episode 00:00:55 - Introductions 00:01:50 - The outsider mentality 00:03:05 - Palestinian-Italian roots and growing up in La Mancha 00:07:15 - On parenting and giving children freedom 00:10:30 - Problems with conventional education 00:30:55 - GDC fear culture vs Spain 00:37:10 - Moving to London from scratch 00:40:20 - First steps in private practice 00:41:25 - Master's in aesthetic restorative dentistry at King's 00:43:20 - College of Extraordinary Experiences 00:48:00 - Patient Experience Design 00:49:30 - Designing the ideal squat 00:52:55 - Reception as the heart of the practice 01:02:10 - Google reviews and the "feel" factor 01:04:05 - Associate vs clinic owner 01:09:15 - The economics of running events 01:17:15 - Events mistakes 01:20:50 - Blackbox thinking 01:25:00 - Setting patient expectations 01:29:20 - Favourite resources 01:32:05 - Fantasy dinner party 01:36:25 - October 7th, Gaza, and personal impact 01:43:00 - Faith, karma, and identity About Mehy Lo Presti Mehy Lo Presti is a London-based associate dentist with a master's degree in aesthetic and restorative dentistry from King's College London, currently practising at The Kensington Dentist. A son of Palestinian and Italian parents who met in Egypt and settled in Spain, he grew up in La Mancha before relocating to London in 2015. He is probably best known as the creative force behind Global Dental Collective and the Dental Rama brand, and is now co-founder of Denttown — an immersive two-day dental conference launching in September 2026.

    1hr 50min

  7. 1 APR

    #336 Boss Moves: Doing Good by Doing Well — Andy Sloan

    Prav is back in the host's chair for a conversation that's quite literally close to home — Andy Sloan is his boss. Andy is the MD of Agilio, the dental software and compliance platform, and a man who has overseen well over a hundred practice acquisitions throughout his career.  But before any of that, he was a council house kid from the Wirral, running paper rounds at 14, pulling pints at 18, and somehow landing — by his own admission — in dentistry entirely by accident. This episode traces that unlikely path through hospitality, banking, accountancy and private equity, unpicking the one constant that runs through all of it: relationships.  Andy opens up about the dark periods too — fertility struggles, the pressure of simultaneous transactions, and the moments where burnout lurked closer than he'd care to admit. Honest, warm and genuinely self-aware, it's a cracking listen—or catch the video on whichever platform you usually get your weekly Dental Leaders dose. In This Episode 00:00:20 - Introducing Andy Sloan - Prav's boss 00:02:15 - Early life 00:12:10 - Hospitality years 00:26:40 - Meeting Lynette; buying the pub 00:27:00 - Banking and sales 00:38:15 - Into dentistry — DBG 00:43:50 - Henry Schein Business Solutions and Europe 00:46:45 - Portman Dental 00:59:05 - Joining Julio; building the tribe 01:04:00 - Julio's growth — 17 acquisitions in under five years 01:07:35 - Relationships as the common thread 01:13:20 - Blackbox thinking 01:15:45 - Practice valuations — the levers that matter 01:27:25 - Dark moments 01:34:55 - Julio's future and the Dental OS vision 01:37:10 - Dentistry Reimagined 01:41:25 - Last days and legacy About Andy Sloan Andy Sloan is the Managing Director of Agilio, the dental software and compliance group that has completed 17 acquisitions in under five years. His career spans hospitality, banking, private equity and dental M&A — including a spell as Business Development Director at Portman Dental Care, where he oversaw the acquisition of more than 120 practices. He is also the founder of Dentistry Reimagined, an independent industry event focused on the conversations dentistry has been too cautious to have.

    1hr 41min

  8. 25 MAR

    #335 Hard Reset — Zain Remy

    This week, Payman sits down with Zain Remy, a Newcastle-based practice owner whose path to dentistry was anything but straightforward. After missing out on dental school the first time round, Zain took the pharmacology route, grafted his way through eight years of study, and eventually qualified from King's College London in 2016.  What followed was a decade of pivotal decisions — a golden handshake from a corporate, a restorative diploma that nearly cost him his job, and a mental health crisis serious enough to land him in hospital for two months. Rather than shy away from any of it, Zain unpacks each chapter with an honesty that's genuinely refreshing. By October 2023, he'd bought his own private practice in Newcastle — and the lessons he's drawn from every stumble along the way are, frankly, worth the listen alone. In This Episode 00:00:50 - Introduction 00:01:35 - Growing up in London 00:02:00 - Dad the dental technician 00:04:40 - Dental school reflections 00:14:45 - The pharmacology detour 00:20:30 - Heading northeast 00:22:40 - Foundation year 00:24:20 - The corporate golden handshake 00:30:05 - Restorative diploma and CPD 00:40:05 - Burnout 00:43:05 - Mental health crisis 00:50:35 - Recovery and talking therapy 00:57:25 - Buying the practice 01:00:30 - Practice ownership: the hard reality 01:05:10 - The associate–principal relationship 01:10:25 - Social media as a clinical tool 01:16:05 - Diary of Dental Practice Owners 01:20:15 - The awards debate 01:29:35 - Hiring and firing 01:33:05 - Blackbox thinking 01:40:05 - Fantasy dinner party 01:44:30 - Favourite and least favourite treatments 01:46:10 - Future vision About Zain Remy Zain Remy is a dental practice owner based in Newcastle, who qualified from King's College London in 2016 after first completing a pharmacology degree. Having worked across NHS and mixed practices in the northeast, he acquired his own fully private practice in October 2023. He holds a postgraduate diploma in restorative dentistry and runs the Diary of Dental Practice Owners community on Facebook, offering an unfiltered look at life as an independent practice principal.

    1hr 52min
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4.9
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About

The Dental Leaders podcast takes you on a behind the scenes journey with emerging leaders in dentistry. Success leaves clues, and these conversations uncover the depth, detail, and backstory behind our guests. The show is hosted by dental entrepreneurs Payman Langroudi & Prav Solanki. Let the conversation flow. Find out more at https://www.dentalleaders.co.uk/

Information

  • Creator
    Prav Solanki & Payman Langroudi
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    392
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Prav Solanki & Payman Langroudi
  • Show Website
    Dental Leaders Podcast

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