Broadcasting from the Thrive event in Las Vegas, Sydney chats with the incomparable Dr. Mark Costes in an insightful conversation about the evolution of leadership, operations, and coaching in the dental space. Sydney brings her signature humor, authenticity, and expertise to the mic as they reminisce on their history and dive into the impactful work happening at the Dental Success Network, Front Office Academy, and Clarity.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
Sydney’s Role as Executive Director of DSN
How she juggles leadership across DSN and Clarity
The power of executing big ideas from Mark, Addison, and Michael across multiple companies
Operating efficiently with a lean but powerful team (12 for DSN, 4.5 for FOA)
Managing support for 2,000+ docs and up to 20,000 team members with clarity and cohesion
The Vision Behind Clarity
Why Clarity was born to bridge the knowledge and communication gap between office managers and practice owners
Real-life stories of misaligned expectations and how clear communication transformed outcomes
The concept of productive schedules vs. just full ones—and why understanding this matters
Empowerment, Not Abdication
How Sydney reframes the office manager role into office leadership
The difference between telling team members what to do vs. empowering them with intent and clarity
Leadership through mentorship, not micromanagement
Clarity Programs & Events
Monthly mentorship, office hours, webinars, and regional events
Live workshops that blend lecture, KPI deep-dives, and practical takeaways
Launch of a new 12-week leadership course starting May 4: KPIs, phone skills, communication, and more
Hot Topics for Office Leaders
Leading systems and team culture with clarity
Teaching team members how to think like owners
Encouraging vulnerability and accountability (even when mistakes happen)
Sydney’s favorite motto: WWMD – What Would Mark Do?
Learn More & Get Involved
🚀 DSN: www.dentalsuccessnetwork.com
🚀 Listen to the Dentalpreneur Podcast with Dr. Mark Costes wherever you get your podcasts.
🚀 Clarity: www.FOACoaching.com
Join the DSN community and explore Front Office Academy resources to elevate your entire practice team.
🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review if you loved this episode!
