In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental, I sit down with coach, consultant, and first-gen Latina leader Edna Abreu to talk about what’s really keeping dental practices from thriving: judgment, culture, and leadership that doesn’t go deeper than surface level.

From her start in the trenches as a dental assistant to becoming a trusted consultant, Edna has lived the reality of being dismissed for how she looks, how she wears her hair, or the fact that she was a teen mom. Instead of shrinking, she built her story into her superpower—and now she challenges the industry to do the same.

This isn’t about cookie-cutter systems or making every office look like a Pinterest board. It’s about inclusivity, culture, and what happens when leaders stop judging their teams by appearances and start seeing them as whole humans.

If you’ve ever felt underestimated, written off, or stuck in an office that doesn’t value its people, this conversation will hit home.

You’ll learn:

• Why judging team members on appearances (tattoos, hair, accents, hoops) keeps practices short-staffed
• The surprising connection between inclusivity and patient trust
• How generational shifts are reshaping dental leadership (and why Gen Z won’t play by old rules)
• Why culture is not a “them” problem…it always starts with the doctor
• What leaders get wrong about creating culture, and how to design a practice where people thrive
• How to stop playing small and build a career, and life, on your own terms

🔗 Learn more about The Empowered LeadHERship Program for Women in Dental: https://leadhershipexperience.com/

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We talk about:

• 00:00 Intro
• 02:00 Edna’s story: from assistant to consultant
• 04:00 What “experience” really looks like (hint: not appearance)
• 07:00 Short-staffed or judgmental? The hidden hiring problem
• 10:00 The cost of a “perfect aesthetic” in dental practices
• 12:00 Gen Z, boomers, and the generational clash in offices
• 15:00 Why respect is no longer automatic for doctors
• 18:00 Breaking stereotypes about young moms, immigrants, and first-gen staff
• 21:00 Culture is not a “them” problem—it starts at the top
• 24:00 Why culture has to be designed, not tacked on
• 26:00 Advice for people judged or underestimated in dentistry
• 29:00 Grit, perseverance, and the influence of Edna’s family
• 32:00 Why giving someone a chance can transform your practice
• 33:00 Closing thoughts and how to connect with Edna

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/thedentalculturist
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edna-abreu-aab34b351/
• Website: https://thedentalculturist.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/
• https://courageandjoyatwork.com/
• https://leadhershipexperience.com/
• Phone: 616-682-6222