Dental Leaders Podcast

From knife crime in East London to owning one of the capital's most successful dental laboratories, Kash Qureshi's story is one of remarkable transformation. 

At just 15, a violent altercation became the catalyst that changed everything, pushing him from a dangerous path towards an apprenticeship that would define his future. 

Now owner of Swiss Dent and a thriving denture clinic, Kash shares the raw realities of growing up on the st...

Shameek Popat takes us on a remarkable journey from his early days as a Ugandan-born dentist to becoming a serial entrepreneur disrupting the oral care industry. 

After 23 years of successful practice ownership, Shameek sold to Portman Dental and launched Tooth Angel, a luxury, eco-friendly oral care brand that's challenging the sustainability narrative in dentistry. 

Now he's back with Disruptive Smiles, partnering with renowned edu...

This fly-on-the-wall conversation between Kailesh Solanki and Dev Patel, founder and CEO of Dental Beauty Partners (DBP), captures the remarkable 20-year journey of Kiss Dental, from a risky startup in a Flixton suburb to an eight-clinic powerhouse.

Kailesh Solanki reveals how he mortgaged himself to the eyeballs at just two years post-graduation, survived near-bankruptcy, weathered a catastrophic flood, and built one of the UK's mo...

Two remarkable women share their extraordinary journey from India to building three thriving NHS practices in the UK. Gauri Pradhan and Shivani Bhandari discuss their innovative therapist-led model that's revolutionising NHS dentistry, creating happy workplaces where staff genuinely want to be. 

From navigating the brutal ORE exam process to developing a groundbreaking patient app, they reveal how genuine friendship and shared v...

Fresh from Barcelona's dental schools and thrust into the realities of UK practice, Patric Saraby brings a refreshing perspective on what it truly means to start a dental career. 

This Iranian-born, multilingual dentist shares his journey from A-level disappointment to Spanish success, and now to the coalface of NHS dentistry in Bournemouth. 

With brutal honesty about clinical mistakes, cultural observations that'll make you ...

Hap Gill takes us on a fascinating journey from his early days "bashing the Nash" to becoming a pioneer in comprehensive dentistry and communication. 

With characteristic honesty, he shares how a transformative experience at the Pankey Institute opened his eyes to occlusion and patient care, whilst his unexpected background as a dating coach revolutionised his approach to patient communication.

From team management crises t...

Mahmoud Ibrahim, known as the "Occlusion Ninja," transforms the complex world of occlusion into practical, everyday dentistry wisdom. 

From nearly abandoning his dental career to becoming one of the UK's most sought-after occlusion educators, Mahmoud shares his journey of obsessive learning and the simple truth that changed everything: occlusion is just force management. 

He reveals common mistakes that plague restorati...

In this powerful episode of the Dental Leaders Podcast, Prav sits down with Kiran Malviya, Vice President of Enterprise Solutions at Straumann Group EMEA.

Kiran’s story is one of quiet defiance, cultural grace, and relentless ambition.

From a traditional Indian upbringing in Nagpur to global leadership at Philips and now Vice President of Enterprise Solutions at Straumann Group EMEA, Kiran has walked a path few would dare to take.

In ...

Chris O'Connor opens up about his journey from academic burnout to building Incidental, sharing hard-won insights about workaholic tendencies, clinical mastery, and the realities of running a dental supply business. 

This episode explores the darker side of perfectionism, the complexity of clinical decision-making, and how childhood experiences shape professional drive. O'Connor discusses everything from innovative matrixing techniq...

Prav returns to host this deeply personal conversation with Rob van Geffen, Chief Marketing Officer at Straumann, who shares his extraordinary journey from a carefree childhood in the Netherlands to leading one of dentistry's most influential organisations.

In this deeply personal conversation, Rob explores how energy shapes every interaction, why vulnerability became his greatest leadership strength, and how a men's group 1...

Kiran Shankla's journey reveals the transformative power of persistence paired with strategic self-reflection. 

From a sports-loving teenager who initially resisted academic pressure to a multi-award-winning dentist specialising in minimally invasive techniques, her story demonstrates that success often comes through consistent effort rather than natural talent. 

Through setbacks in Australia, rigorous postgraduate training at the Ea...

Mahsa Balaie embodies the truth that sometimes life's biggest detours lead to its greatest destinations. From engineering to Spain, from associate to practice owner, her journey reveals the power of diving in completely when opportunities arise. 

Through personal struggles, professional challenges, and the complexities of balancing motherhood with business ownership, Mahsa demonstrates that success isn't about avoiding difficulties—...

Doctor Solmaz Samae embodies the power of authenticity in dentistry—someone who speaks her truth with refreshing honesty. From building a successful business empire in Iran to studying dentistry in Latvia at 30, her unconventional journey reveals what happens when passion meets persistence. 

Now practising across multiple settings whilst building a thriving YouTube presence, Solmaz demonstrates that happiness in dentistry comes from...

This compelling episode features Lala, the anonymous voice behind "Lalalaletmeexplain" - a former social worker turned influential author who's helped thousands recognise red flags and find their worth. 

Rhona and Payman explore deeply personal territory as Lala shares her childhood trauma, decade-long career in child protection, and the systemic failures she witnessed firsthand. The conversation weaves through heavy t...

Andrew El-Khanagry's journey from anxious young associate to confident practitioner reveals the transformative power of purpose-driven dentistry. 

Five years out from dental school, this Egyptian-born dentist has navigated the challenges of perfecting his craft while building Mobile Smiles, a charity bringing dental care to underserved communities worldwide. 

Through candid conversations about clinical mistakes, the value of communic...

Sonia Rajput shares her journey from being a self-described introvert from Birmingham to becoming a dentist at two of London's most prestigious dental practices. 

Throughout the conversation, she reveals how she balanced ambition with prioritising work-life balance, leveraging social media to advance her career despite her natural introversion. 

Sonia offers valuable insights into building a private dentistry career, discussing e...

Stina Sanders, a former dating app co-founder turned therapist and mental health advocate, joins Rhona and Payman for a raw conversation about love, trauma, and the difference between chaos and genuine connection. 

From selling her relationship-focused business Huggle to studying therapy after her own healing journey, Stina unpacks why we mistake dysfunction for passion, how trauma bonds keep us stuck, and whether AI can replace hum...

In this captivating episode of Dental Leaders, Payman sits down with Dr Moj Dehghanpour, a dentist whose journey from immigrant child to practice owner embodies resilience and entrepreneurial spirit. 

From navigating tough comprehensive schools to founding the premium Your Dental Wellness practices, Moj shares how his background shaped his ability to connect with patients across social divides. 

Throughout the conversation, he offers...

In this captivating conversation, Payman welcomes Alan Clarke, the innovative founder of Paste Dental in Belfast and creator of Paste Presents. 

Alan shares his journey from growing up in Northern Ireland to developing a global mindset through international experiences. 

Throughout the episode, he discusses building a lifestyle dental brand, his groundbreaking international dental mastermind events, and his passion for community buil...