In this episode of The Dental Economist Show, host Mike Huffaker speaks with Anne Duffy, founder and CEO of DEW Life (Dental Entrepreneur Woman). They talk about community, confidence, and what it takes to keep great women in dentistry.
Anne is a registered dental hygienist and has spent nearly three decades building media for the dental profession. She is the publisher of Dental Entrepreneur magazine and host of the Just DEW It podcast. DEW Life started after a phone call with a friend who had been told in a review that her smile was “insincere.” Within 30 minutes, Anne had decided to launch a new magazine to celebrate women in dentistry. Ten years on, it has grown into a community of more than 500 women and 349 “dudes” who support them.
Anne shares the 10 principles behind DEW, from “good DEWs find good DEWs” to “be kind, don’t be a jerk.” She also explains why she still calls herself a hygienist first. The conversation looks at how assertive women are often seen as aggressive, and why so few women reach the CEO seat. Anne says DSO leaders can retain and promote women through ownership, coaching, and real chances to grow, and she explains why she thinks DSOs can be a strong career path for women dentists and team members.
Anne also previews the 8th annual DEW Life Retreat in Charlotte, which is also DEW Life’s 10th anniversary, and why she wants every attendee to arrive with a “host mindset.”
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