From fleeing revolution-era Iran to building an eight-surgery practice in Norwich, Fariba Zolfaghari shares her remarkable journey of resilience and reinvention. 

Through arranged marriage, divorce, immigration, and starting over as a single mother, Fariba pursued her dental education in Sweden before establishing herself in the UK. 

She opens up about overcoming personal and professional challenges, including a difficult business partnership dissolution and bankruptcy, to emerge stronger. 

Today, she runs a thriving private practice while maintaining her passion for learning and digital dentistry.

In This Episode

00:01:50 - Backstory

00:16:35 - Journey to Sweden as an asylum seeker

00:19:35 - Dental education while raising two children

00:41:35 - Starting practice in Norwich

00:46:35 - Business partnership challenges

00:57:25 - Navigating bankruptcy and rebuilding

01:08:55 - Converting to private practice

01:14:35 - Current practice focus and digital dentistry

01:31:40 - Black box thinking

01:37:35 - Fantasy dinner party guests

About Fariba Zolfaghari

Fariba is a dentist who qualified in Sweden in 1997 before moving to the UK, where she established her practice in Norwich in 2000. 

She holds a master's degree in orthodontics from Warwick University and has grown her practice into an eight-surgery facility. 

A champion of digital dentistry and continuing education, she focuses on orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, and full-mouth rehabilitation while mentoring younger dentists.

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 2025
05:42 - Dental Marketing and Competition
12:45 - Sales Process & Conversion Strategies
19:03 - Niche Marketing
26:37 - Future Trends in Dental Practice Acquisitions
34:12 - 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".