BUILDING LEGACIES: FROM THRIVING PRACTICE TO EMPOWERING WOMEN

By Dr. Valerie Woo

The Daring Dream

“The biggest risk is not taking any risk.” Oprah Winfrey’s words echoed in my mind as I pursued my dream: opening a pediatric dental practice with the guiding motto, “Pediatric Dentistry with a Mom’s Touch.” Fresh out of residency with a newborn in my arms, I was determined to create a nurturing environment offering gentle, personalized care, like a mother’s loving touch.

The early days were an uphill battle. Securing financing felt like scaling a mountain as lender after lender dismissed my ambitious vision. “I’m not sure you have what it takes with a newborn,” one loan officer bluntly stated after reviewing my proposal. His doubting words fueled my determination.

The Constant Grind

When I finally secured my beautiful well-lit space nestled in the heart of a family-friendly growing community, the overwhelming sense of relief quickly morphed into a new set of challenges. Attracting the initial influx of patients and building the right team was a grueling process.

I remember donning a tooth fairy costume, my infant daughter in tow, as I enthusiastically waved to crowds, handing out branded toothbrushes, sugar-free candy, and business cards during a Halloween parade—anything to raise awareness about this special place I was creating. The grind was relentless, the debt overwhelming.

Countless nights were spent lying awake, my mind racing with doubts and fears, questioning my sanity in taking on such an endeavor while raising my daughter.

Embodying The Mission

Amid those stressful formative years, one moment remains seared into my memory. Holding the hand of a severely anxious young patient, her body trembling, I seamlessly shifted into “mom mode,” speaking soothingly as I explained each step. Her eyes unclouded, her shoulders relaxed. My “...with a Mom’s Touch” motto became a living, breathing philosophy, forging an inextricable bond of trust with my patients. I had discovered the secret sauce to build something truly special.

As the years ticked by, my practice not only flourished from a business perspective, but also from a personal one as my family expanded with three more sons joining the beautiful chaos. With each new addition, I found myself grappling with that age-old challenge of work-life balance.

Breakdown To Breakthrough

There was one particular breaking point - a frantic morning, in a panicked rush to get myself and the kids out the door, I spilled piping hot coffee all over my scrubs. As the scalding liquid seeped through, tears streamed down my face, releasing all the overwhelming stress, fatigue, and pressure.

This incident became a powerful wake-up call, prompting me to implement strict boundaries and self-care routines. To embody the nurturing, compassionate energy I wanted for my patients, I knew I had to start by nurturing myself.

Mindset Transformation

It was around this time that I had a pivotal mindset shift: I could no longer treat this practice like a one-woman show wearing all the hats. It deserved and demanded to be approached with the same level of meticulous planning, operations, and strategic decision-making that a Fortune 500 CEO applies to their organization.

Along with spending endless hours treating patients, I became a voracious student, devouring resources and coaching on leadership, operations, finance, and marketing. These skills were glaringly absent from dental school training, leaving me underprepared for entrepreneurship. From this study and real-life practice growth, I created the Dental Practice Scale Trio to bridge the skill gap and ensure practice success.

The Bigger Calling

Despite achieving incredible success and finding sustainable ways to juggle my roles, a gnawing sense persisted that something bigger was calling me. I couldn’t shake the feeling that the impact I hoped to make extended far beyond the four walls of my thriving pediatric dental practice.

As I entered my early 40s, operating at the absolute peak of my career, a pivotal epiphany crystallized: my true purpose was not just to build and lead a booming business, but to empower and inspire the next generation of women in the dental field to shatter limitations and achieve their biggest dreams—without having to make the same sacrifices I had endured.

The weight of that realization was immense, both terrifying and exhilarating. Achieving that level of impact meant something truly profound—I would have to let go of the very dream I had fought so tenaciously to build.

Letting Go To Level Up

And so, with both an anxious and courageous heart, I made the agonizing decision to sell my ownership stake in the practice I had brought into this world. I remembered the early days, sitting with my husband during residency, scribbling dreams for the practice on dinner napkins, making the decision even more heart-wrenching. Preparing to pass the baton to new owners who could take my life’s work to soaring new heights was an emotional rollercoaster.

I spent endless late nights meticulously optimizing and documenting every single system. Every report had to be pristine—I was determined to ensure that the sterling reputation I had worked so hard to cultivate would continue to shine.

Finally, the day arrived when I inked my signature to those final sale documents. As I did, a torrent of tears spilled down my cheeks and an immense cocktail of emotions hit me at once – sadness at having to let go of this precious endeavor that I had quite literally given birth to and nurtured with every ounce of my being; pride at the soaring heights it had achieved through sheer grit and perseverance; worry and fear of not knowing what my practice would become – would it be cared for and loved the same way I did; relieved that the burden of everything wasn’t entirely on me anymore; exultant that I had endured and overcame all of the challenges that led to this moment; peace knowing that I made the best decision for myself, my family, and my team; and finally, incredible excitement over the new impact I could now make on a much broader scale.

Letting go of the very dream that had demanded such immense sacrifice was, without a doubt, one of the most difficult decisions of my life. Yet I knew in my heart it was the right one.

Launching The Next Generation

However, this was not going to be a bitter goodbye or a full exit from dentistry. With great intention, I remained a leader in my practice, determined to equip my handpicked associate team with the tools, skills, and wisdom they would need to take this practice to new heights.

Just as a parent patiently nurtures their child through each developmental stage, imparting the lessons that will allow them to ultimately spread their wings, I took it as my personal responsibility to guide my dental leaders-inwaiting through the intricacies of large-scale operations and business management—teaching them everything from clinical excellence to leadership principles to organizational psychology.

It was my mission to lay a rock-solid foundation for their long-term success before eventually stepping aside to allow this practice to enter its next incredible phase of life, now under the stewardship of the very people I had mentored and developed.

PRACTICING AND MENTORING: A UNIQUE APPROACH

My new greater purpose: nurturing and inspiring the next generation of female dentists while continuing to practice and lead—ensuring hard-earned wisdom stayed current.

Uniquely straddling my past role as a practice owner with ongoing active leadership responsibilities, I could offer a blend of empathetic guidance and experienced-based credibility into every interaction with those I mentor. I aimed to be the compassionate yet brutally honest sounding board that I had so desperately craved in my own journey. Whether a start-up grappling with fears or a veteran craving balance, I cultivated an environment to reframe mindsets and implement transformative systems. My goal was to accelerate their learning curves while offering a safe haven to stumble, regroup, and charge forward as empowered versions of themselves.

In one memorable coaching call, a new owner said, “It’s awesome having someone to confide in about issues I can’t discuss with dental friends. It’s like having a mentor and therapist!” By normalizing vulnerabilities and providing a strategic roadmap, I empowered women to achieve sustainable success faster without sacrificing themselves or facing the pitfalls I encountered. to confidently and competently pursue their visions— shattering glass ceilings, discovering the brilliance within themselves, and unapologetically becoming who they’re meant to be. My heart is full.

And just like a mother who gently guides her child past fear to spread their wings, I will continue nurturing these rising leaders to courageously claim their power. For it’s through empowering these leaders that we can transform an industry and inspire generations to come.

About the author:

Dr. Valerie Woo - entrepreneur, pediatric dentist, and mother of four - consults and mentors female dentists in transforming chaotic practices into thriving businesses. After selling her successful pediatric dental practice in 2021, she now integrates leadership, marketing, and operational systems into customized programs. Drawing from her own entrepreneurial journey from start up, scaling, and selling, Dr. Woo provides strategic guidance infused with compassionate wisdom to help dentists achieve their boldest visions without compromising what matters most.