Featuring Larry Benz, CEO of Dental Care Alliance

What if the strongest driver of growth in dentistry is not more technology, more locations, or even more efficiency, but better human connection?

In this episode of The Executive Edge with Dr. Aman Kaur, Dr. Kaur sits down with Larry Benz, CEO of Dental Care Alliance, for a candid conversation on culture, clinical excellence, artificial intelligence, talent development, and what it takes to build healthcare organizations that deliver both strong results and meaningful human impact.

A physical therapist by training, Larry has spent nearly four decades building and leading multi-site healthcare organizations. His path into dentistry gave him a unique outsider’s perspective on an industry filled with exceptional clinicians, but also an opportunity to rethink the relationship between provider and patient.

His belief is clear: dentistry must move from transactional to relational.

Together, Dr. Kaur and Larry explore why clinical expertise alone is not enough, how empathy and communication can be developed as professional skills, and why the so-called soft skills may now be some of the most valuable capabilities a clinician can possess.

Larry also challenges the idea that leaders must choose between culture and financial performance. He calls it a false trade-off. Strong culture can improve retention, patient relationships, referrals, treatment acceptance, and ultimately business performance.

At Dental Care Alliance, that philosophy has shaped investments in mentorship, clinical development, customer service, care and compassion training, and pathways to partnership.

The conversation also turns to artificial intelligence and Larry’s distinctly human approach to innovation. Rather than asking only what AI can automate, he asks whether technology can help clinicians spend more meaningful time with patients.

Whether you are leading a DSO, managing a healthcare organization, or building a clinical career, this conversation offers a compelling argument for why sustainable growth still begins with people.

In this Executive Feature, you’ll discover:

• Why dentistry must evolve from transactional care to relational care
• How Larry’s clinical background shaped his leadership philosophy
• Why clinical excellence must be paired with service, empathy, and compassion
• Why Larry believes soft skills are becoming the new hard skills
• How stronger relationships influence retention, referrals, and treatment acceptance
• Why culture and financial performance are not competing priorities
• How Dental Care Alliance reduced dentist turnover from 70% to 20%
• Why investing in dental professionals can create greater value than simply adding locations or equipment
• How mentorship, education, and pathways to partnership strengthen retention
• Why EBITDA should be the byproduct of building a company well
• How Dental Care Alliance approaches AI through the lens of human connection
• Why AI insights matter only when they lead to action
• Why “high tech” must still be accompanied by “high touch”
• What Called to Care taught Larry about burnout and humanizing healthcare
• Why curiosity, learning, and relationships remain central to his leadership

About Larry Benz
Larry Benz is the CEO of Dental Care Alliance and a clinician, healthcare entrepreneur, executive, author, and investor whose career spans nearly four decades.

A physical therapist by background, Larry pursued advanced education including an MBA, doctorate, and master’s degree in applied positive psychology. He went on to build and lead multi-site healthcare organizations, including Confluent Health, while serving in roles ranging from founder and CEO to executive chairman, board member, and investor.

He later joined Dental Care Alliance, first as a board member and executive chair and ultimately as CEO.

Today, his leadership centers on culture, clinical excellence, professional development, human connection, and sustainable operating performance.
Larry is also the author of Called to Care. His forthcoming dental edition, Called to Care: The Dental Professional’s Guide to Humanizing the Patient Experience, brings that philosophy directly into the dental setting.

At the center of his work is a simple idea: develop people, build meaningful relationships, and better results follow.

Leading Beyond the Org Chart

Featuring Marie-Laure Pochon, President and CEO of 3DISC

How do you lead a global organization when technology is moving faster than certainty?

It is a challenge every executive navigating innovation must eventually confront.

In this episode of The Executive Edge with Dr. Aman Kaur, Dr. Kaur sits down with Marie-Laure Pochon, CEO of 3DISC, for a candid conversation on global leadership, calculated risk, artificial intelligence, and building the future of dentistry.

Together, Dr. Aman Kaur and Marie-Laure explore what it takes to make consequential decisions before the outcome is clear, bring diverse teams around a shared vision, and transform emerging technology into meaningful clinical value.

Marie-Laure shares how her background in engineering and more than 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry shaped the way she approaches leadership today. From her executive roles at Merck, Pfizer, and Lundbeck to leading 3DISC through a highly competitive period of dental innovation, her career reflects a willingness to think globally, move decisively, and remain focused on impact.

She also speaks openly about ambition, family, sacrifice, and the personal realities of building an extraordinary career. Her perspective is a powerful reminder that leadership requires more than vision. It requires the courage to act before certainty arrives.

Whether you are leading a growing company, developing new technology, or considering a bold transition in your own career, this conversation offers valuable insight into what it means to dare, decide, and build what comes next.

In this Executive Feature, you’ll discover:

• How Marie-Laure’s engineering background influences the way she evaluates technology and opportunity
• Why she left the pharmaceutical industry to pursue more immediate and visible impact
• How a clearly communicated vision helps teams navigate pressure and demanding timelines
• Why global perspectives strengthen decision-making and product development
• How 3DISC brings engineers, dentists, and international clinical advisors together to accelerate innovation
• Why artificial intelligence can strengthen trust between dentists and patients
• How visual technology can help patients better understand treatment needs
• What leaders must consider when making decisions that may take years to validate
• Why moving beyond familiar markets became a defining moment in Marie-Laure’s career
• The personal sacrifices that often accompany ambition and global leadership
• Why women may have more freedom and fewer limitations than they have been taught to believe
• The one word Marie-Laure would offer her younger self: dare

About Marie-Laure Pochon

Marie-Laure Pochon is the CEO of 3DISC, a global dental technology company advancing digital dentistry through intraoral scanning, artificial intelligence, and patient-centered clinical solutions.

An engineer by education and a fourth-generation entrepreneur, Marie-Laure spent more than 30 years in the global pharmaceutical industry, holding leadership positions with companies including Merck, Pfizer, and Lundbeck. She later transitioned into dentistry with the goal of creating more immediate impact and helping move the industry from curative care toward more preventive and predictive solutions.

Today, she leads a highly international team at 3DISC, bringing together technology, clinical expertise, and global perspectives to develop tools that improve communication between dental professionals and their patients.

In this episode of The Executive EDGE with Dr. Aman Kaur, Dr. Kaur sits down with Dr. Greg White, Founder of PepperPointe Partnerships, for a powerful conversation on purpose-driven leadership, doctor ownership, and the quiet weight that comes with building something meant to last.

From growing up in a farming family with no running water until age nine to becoming a visionary leader in dentistry, Dr. White shares the experiences that shaped his resilience, foresight, and commitment to doing what he calls “the next right thing.”

Together, Dr. Aman Kaur and Dr. White explore what it really takes to lead through complexity, preserve legacy, build durable organizations, and make the hard 51/49 decisions when there is no obvious answer.

This conversation is a reminder that true leadership is not about popularity, speed, or certainty. It is about purpose, accountability, and having the courage to keep moving forward when the path is heavy.

For any executive, founder, clinician, or leader navigating growth, pressure, and responsibility, this episode offers a grounded and unforgettable look at what it means to lead with conviction.

In this Executive Feature, you’ll discover:
●     How Dr. White’s early life shaped his resilience, work ethic, and leadership philosophy

●     Why purpose-driven leadership requires patience, conviction, and long-term thinking

●     What it means to build an organization designed to preserve doctor ownership and legacy

●     How leaders navigate complexity when the right decision is not obvious

●     Why the hardest leadership decisions often come down to 51/49 judgment calls

●     The quiet emotional weight that comes with carrying responsibility for people, practices, and the future

●     How “doing the next right thing” can become a guiding principle in uncertain seasons

●     Why durable organizations are built on more than growth, scale, or short-term momentum

●     The role of accountability in earning trust and protecting what matters most

●     What founders and executives can learn from leading with humility, courage, and conviction

About Dr. Greg White
Dr. Greg White is the Founder of PepperPointe Partnerships, a doctor-owned dental partnership organization built to support clinicians, preserve legacy, and create a sustainable model for long-term growth. His leadership is shaped by resilience, purpose, and a deep belief in doing what is right for doctors, teams, patients, and the future of dentistry.

In this episode of The Executive Edge with Dr. Aman Kaur, Dr. Kaur sits down with Jeff Leger, CEO of 123Dentist, one of Canada’s largest dental support organizations.

Just 10 months into his role, Jeff shares what he learned from visiting more than 100 clinics, how his background in pharmacy and large-scale healthcare leadership shaped his approach to dentistry, and why listening remains one of the most powerful tools in leadership.

Together, they explore the future of DSOs in Canada, the connection between oral health and whole-body health, the importance of clinician support, and how 123Dentist is approaching growth, mentorship, AI, diversity, and patient care at scale.

This conversation offers a thoughtful look at what it takes to lead a growing healthcare organization without losing sight of the people, culture, and care at the center of it all.

In this Executive Feature, you’ll discover:

●     Why Jeff prioritized visiting more than 100 clinics in his first six months as CEO

●     How his background in pharmacy and healthcare leadership shaped his transition into dentistry

●     Why listening is one of the most underrated skills in executive leadership

●     How 123Dentist is scaling while staying rooted in patient care and clinician support

●     The role DSOs can play in expanding access, mentorship, training, and career growth

●     Why oral health must be part of the broader conversation around whole-body health

●     How 123Dentist is approaching AI with curiosity, discipline, and real-world testing

●     Why office manager training is a critical investment in the future leadership pipeline

●     What dentists should ask when considering whether a DSO partnership is the right fit

●     Jeff’s perspective on growth, culture, diversity, and building a strong healthcare organization at scale

About Jeff Leger
Jeff Leger is the CEO of 123Dentist, one of Canada’s largest dental support organizations. With a background as a pharmacist and a career leading large-scale healthcare organizations, Jeff brings a patient-centered, people-first approach to dental leadership. His leadership style is grounded in listening, collaboration, and building systems that help clinicians deliver exceptional care.

Welcome to Executive Edge, the leadership podcast from The LEAD Magazine, hosted by Dr. Aman Kaur.

In this quick insight, Dr. Greg White shares a powerful insight on developing a winner's mindset—a glimpse of the candid executive conversations to come.

Launching July 22, Executive Edge will debut with three full episodes featuring leaders shaping the future of business and dentistry. After launch, listeners can expect a new episode every month exploring leadership, innovation, growth, and the decisions that create lasting impact.

Follow Executive Edge today so you don't miss the premiere.

How do you scale an organization without losing the culture that made it successful in the first place?

It’s a question every growing organization eventually faces.

In this episode of The Executive Edge with Dr. Aman Kaur, Dr. Kaur sits down with Lorri Detrick, President and COO of Riccobene Associates, for a conversation on anchored leadership, decision-making, and leading through scale without losing sight of what matters most.

Together, Dr. Aman Kaur and Lorri explore what it takes to build organizations where people thrive, decisions remain anchored in values, and culture becomes a true competitive advantage.

Lorri shares how her journey from social work to DSO leadership shaped the way she leads today, with clarity, alignment, transparency, and a deep respect for people. From earning founder trust to navigating growth, culture, change, and personal resilience, this conversation is a powerful reminder that the best leaders do not just move organizations forward. They stay grounded while doing it.

Whether you’re leading a team of five or five thousand, this conversation offers practical insights for navigating growth without losing sight of what matters most.

In this Executive Feature, you’ll discover:

●     How Lorri’s background in social work shaped her people-first approach to executive leadership

●     Why trust is one of a leader’s most valuable forms of capital

●     How values become the foundation for confident decision-making

●     What transparency looks like during periods of rapid growth and change

●     Why culture is not created during expansion — it is revealed

●     How leaders can scale without losing the heart of the organization

●     The role of alignment in building resilient, high-performing teams

●     Why earning founder trust requires consistency, humility, and clarity

●     How personal resilience shapes the way leaders show up in complex seasons

●     The leadership habits that help organizations grow while staying grounded

About Lorri Detrick
Lorri Detrick is the President and COO of Riccobene Associates, where she helps lead one of the fastest-growing dental organizations with a focus on people, culture, operational excellence, and values-driven growth. Her leadership is shaped by a deep respect for people, a commitment to transparency, and a belief that strong organizations are built by staying anchored to what matters most.