Some lessons never leave you. For Lindsay Quinn and me, the high standards we learned working side by side in a world-class orthodontic practice shaped how we lead, coach, and show up for our teams, then and now.
We share stories from our early days, the high expectations that set the bar for everything we’ve done since, and the leadership moves that protect both your people and your practice. You’ll get a front-row seat to the lessons we’ve carried into our own companies, why we still measure every practice against that first one, and the exact framework Lindsay uses to make tough calls on staffing.
“You know when it’s time to cut the cord. And when you do, you’ll never regret it, because the right people raise the standard, and the wrong ones lower it.”
We talk about:
– The early career experiences that shaped our leadership styles
– Lessons from a high-standard ortho practice (and why they still matter)
– The leadership framework Lindsay uses to know when a team member isn’t a fit
– Why keeping the wrong person costs more than replacing them
– How cross-training and system documentation remove staffing fear
– The culture shifts that happen the moment a toxic hire is gone
About Lindsay Quinn
Lindsay Quinn is the founder of Heartwise Collective, an orthodontic consulting firm helping practices align their systems, leadership, and operations. With more than two decades in the industry, she’s known for transforming operational chaos into streamlined clarity through efficient workflows, conscious team development, and modern tools—from AI systems built for orthodontic teams to astrology-based team workshops that turn even skeptics into believers. She partners with growth-minded practices ready to lead better, collect more, and finally feel in control of their business.
Episode Links & Resources
Connect with the Heartwise Collective on Instagram
Learn more about the Heartwise Collective
Connect with Lindsay on LinkedIn
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Episode Chapters
00:00 Welcome and meet Lindsay
01:06 How we met—same street, same practice
03:32 Lessons from working in a high-standard ortho practice
07:02 When high standards become your career foundation
10:43 Career pivots: from ortho to cruise ships to consulting
15:37 The first taste of consulting (and why it stuck)
19:10 Building Heartwise Collective and finding her niche
23:25 The leadership framework for knowing when to let go
30:41 The hidden costs of keeping the wrong team member
35:12 Cross-training, systems, and removing staffing fear
40:58 Why culture is your ultimate recruitment tool
44:29 Final thoughts on leadership and growth
Topics we explore in this episode include:
orthodontic consulting, orthodontic team culture, leadership frameworks for ortho, letting go of toxic team members, orthodontic systems and processes, cross-training in orthodontics, AI for orthodontic teams, astrology team building, ortho practice growth strategies
