Dr. Courtney Dunn is a force-of-nature orthodontist entrepreneur who scaled Dunn Orthodontics into a multi-location powerhouse through the Great Recession—and now mentors thousands of women as the Founder of Women in Orthodontics®. In this episode of QueenMode, Ana Castilla interviews Courtney on what it really takes to grow a business that runs without the founder holding everything together.

In this conversation, I pull back the curtain on what so many high-achieving women get wrong about scaling: when growth feels chaotic, the answer usually isn’t “work harder.” It’s build systems, tighten standards, and stop being the default solution for everything. Courtney shares how she created consistency across locations, how she led through the Great Recession, and why women-only rooms can be a powerful catalyst for leadership.

What we talk about

Even if you’re not in healthcare, this episode is packed with lessons that apply to any woman running a service business:

1. How to scale without the business becoming more dependent on you
2. Why standardization is what makes growth stable (not fragile)
3. How to lead through uncertainty with calm CEO energy (and real numbers)
4. The support and delegation conversation most women avoid until they’re exhausted
5. What women-only spaces can unlock for leadership, confidence, and community

Key Moments

1. Courtney’s “systems-first” approach to building a multi-location business that stays consistent
2. The hard truths about overhead, payroll, and making decisions during tough economic seasons
3. The mindset shift from “I can handle it” to “I’m not available for everything”
4. Crystal Balls vs Rubber Balls: the framework for protecting what matters most
5. Why women-only rooms trigger people — and why Courtney built them anyway
6. The leadership identity shift that makes scaling feel clean, not chaotic


👑 Work with Ana: 1:1 Coaching

Ana Castilla Media offers 1:1 coaching for high-performing women entrepreneurs who want to clarify their Customer Value Proposition (CVP), tighten their messaging, and build a business that grows without chaos — while protecting the crown (your time, energy, and standards).

Apply / learn more: dranacastilla.com


Instagram: @dranacastilla


You can also DM me the word “DIAGNOSE” to start the conversation.

Support the show (and share with other Queens)

If this episode hit home, here’s how you can help more women find QueenMode:

1. Follow / Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube Music
2. Leave a review (especially on Apple Podcasts)
3. Share this episode with another Queen who needs systems > hustle right now 👑