This episode was a special one. We recorded live at Women in DSO® 2025, and Sydney joined an amazing panel led by Dr. Mark Costes. Mark turned the spotlight toward the incredible women who make companies like Dental Success Network, Dental Success Institute, and CMO Share run.
Sydney joined the panel alongside Ashlee Hirschfeld, Kay Lang, and Mary Lafferty — four leaders who’ve helped shape the culture, systems, and soul of their organizations. Together, they shared what it really looks like to build and lead from behind the scenes — with humility, teamwork, and a little bit of chaos along the way.
What You’ll Hear
This isn’t a dry conversation about systems and spreadsheets; it’s about people. You’ll hear stories of growth, mistakes that became lessons, and the messy middle that makes strong leadership possible.
Ashlee Hirschfeld, COO of Dental Success Network and founder of GSD Queen, shares how to create consistency across practices and why small, repeatable habits matter more than big ideas.
Sydney Robinson, Executive Director of DSN and founder of Clarity Dental Solutions, breaks down how to attract and keep great people — not just through benefits or experience, but through culture and connection.
Kay Lang, President of the Dental Success Companies, talks about building your “personal board of directors” — the circle of trusted professionals who make scaling and decision-making faster and more grounded.
Mary Lafferty, Chief Strategy Officer of CMOshare, brings a marketer’s heart to the conversation — reminding us that trust and transparency are the new currency, both in business and in patient care.
They also touch on how AI is changing the way we work, why mentorship and advocacy are different, and how collaboration across teams can spark innovation you never see coming.
A Shared Mission
As the conversation turns to giving back, the group highlights Smile Outreach International — a nonprofit making dental mission work accessible to anyone who wants to serve, whether you’re a dentist, a leader, or simply a person with a heart to help.
Why You’ll Love This One
This episode is a reminder that leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice. It’s about creating space for others to shine; it’s about gratitude, growth, and the courage to learn out loud.
