What does it really take to attract and keep top hygiene talent in today's dental practice?

In this episode of the Practice Pulse Podcast, Dr. Aditi Agarwal, Co-founder of Practice by Numbers, sits down with Rachel Wall, CEO of Inspired Hygiene and one of the Top 10 Content Creators Shaking Up the Dental Industry in 2026 (AGD Impact Magazine).

Together they unpack:

→ The "secret sauce" for retaining hygienists and why compensation alone isn't enough

→ How autonomy and clinical standards can coexist

→ The 3 hygiene KPIs every practice owner should be tracking (and what they really tell you)

→ Why the perio percentage is a barometer for the entire hygiene department

→ DSO vs private practice: who should have the hard compensation conversations

→ A real coaching story about 12 hygienists, a simple tracker, and the power of awareness

→ Why losing a long-tenured team member can be the start of something better

Whether you're a private practice dentist, office manager, or DSO leader, this is an honest conversation about culture, systems, and the people behind the practice.

Hosted by: Dr. Aditi Agarwal, Co-founder, Practice by Numbers Guest: Rachel Wall, CEO, Inspired Hygiene

Learn more: https://inspiredhygiene.com/

Website: https://practicenumbers.com/

Description:

Leadership isn’t just about strategy. It’s about clarity, confidence, and the ability to navigate uncertainty. In this episode, Dr. Aditi Agarwal sits down with Executive Coach Thomas Passalacqua, Ascend Professional Pathways, LLC to discuss what it really takes to grow as a leader in today’s fast-evolving dental landscape.

Thomas shares how executive coaching helps dentists and business leaders move beyond surface-level tactics and address the internal challenges that often hold them back. From overcoming doubt and decision paralysis to building stronger self-awareness, this conversation dives into the personal side of leadership that directly impacts business growth.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, uncertain about your next move, or ready to step into a bigger leadership role, this episode will give you a fresh perspective on how to move forward with clarity and confidence.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro

01:10 – Thomas Passalacqua’s journey from being a teacher to executive coach

04:50 – What executive coaching really is (and how it’s different from consulting)

06:05 – Common challenges leaders face when stepping into bigger roles

08:10 – The emotional side of leadership and why it matters

11:57 – The cost of doing nothing: how to know if coaching is right for you

13:47 – Real breakthroughs: what happens when clients discover their own solutions

15:07 – Strategies leaders can use to move through fear and make confident decisions

18:07 – What the coaching actually looks like and how fast you can see results

21:14 – Overcoming resistance and breaking through self-inflicted barriers

24:48 – How to connect with Thomas and access the exclusive listener offer

About the Speaker

Thomas Passalacqua is a certified Executive Coach who specializes in customized professional & leadership development. With a master’s in education, Thomas started his career as a founding teacher in New York City. He then transitioned into dental manufacturing sales, where he was an award-winning consultant who trained and mentored other sales professionals. Transitioning again, Thomas was the director of business development for a growing dental group practice in the Northeast where he led sales and marketing for mergers & acquisitions. In his executive coaching and professional training platform, Ascend Professional Pathways LLC, he enables various industry leaders to gain clarity and improve their business leadership skills. His clients are empowered to reach the next level in their businesses and careers by overcoming doubts, fears, and uncertainty and making strategic decisions to better align with their goals.

Exclusive Listener Offer

Podcast listeners receive 5% off on any Executive Coaching program with Thomas Passalacqua. If you’re looking to gain clarity, strengthen your leadership, and make more confident decisions in your business or career, this is a great opportunity to take the next step.

Don’t miss it, this is a limited offer!

Running a successful dental practice requires more than great clinical skills. Leadership, systems, and strategy are what ultimately determine whether a practice grows or becomes overwhelming. In this episode, Dr. Aditi Agarwal sits down with Dr. Rehan Shahid, a practicing dentist, entrepreneur, and co-CEO of a multi-practice dental group, to discuss how dentists can transition from day-to-day operators into confident CEOs. Dr. Rehan shares the mindset shifts, systems, and leadership strategies that helped him scale multiple practices while avoiding the burnout that many practice owners experience. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the daily grind of dentistry, this conversation will challenge how you think about growth, delegation, and building a practice that runs beyond you.

About the Speaker

Dr. Rehan Shahid is a practicing dentist, entrepreneur, and co-CEO of a multi-practice dental group. He is the founder of Practice Success Academy, where he helps dentists buy back their time and scale their practice through transitioning from being day-to-day operators into confident CEOs by building strong leadership, scalable systems, and data-driven accountability. Drawing from real-world experience leading multiple offices, Dr. Rehan is passionate about helping dentists create profitable, predictable practices that thrive without owner burnout.

Exclusive Listener Offer

Podcast listeners are invited to a complimentary 30-minute CEO Strategy Call where we’ll review leadership structure, key performance metrics, and the primary bottleneck preventing their practice from scaling. The goal is to provide clarity and actionable next steps, whether or not we work together.

Don’t miss it, this is a limited offer! If you found this podcast helpful,

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