Episode 18

full
Published on:

28th Aug 2025

Dentists – disrupt or be disrupted: business lessons from a former airline managing director

Dave Bryon, former managing director of low-cost airline bmibaby, built a career on doing things differently. In this latest podcast episode, he explains his key lessons for those in dentistry.

Dave reflects on his time leading bmibaby, sharing the key business takeaways that apply far beyond aviation. From balancing cost control with service quality to challenging the norm, Dave explains why disruption is both inevitable and essential.

Looking at Ryanair’s no-frills customer approach, as well as the downfall of Blockbuster and HMV, he explains why business owners who fail to adapt risk being left behind. For dental practices, this means embracing change and balancing the delicate trade-off between cost control and high-quality patient care.

Whether you’re running a dental practice or leading a team within the sector, Dave’s insights will inspire you to look differently at your business, challenge assumptions and never stop pushing boundaries.

Topics include:

  • What dentists can learn from Ryanair, Blockbuster and HMV
  • How to approach cost versus service in patient care
  • The biggest challenges of Dave’s career – and what they taught him
  • Work-life balance and the perspective that life’s toughest moments can bring
  • Why he reinvented himself as a speaker and comedian
  • Current projects and what’s next for the future.

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About the Podcast

Dentistry Talks
Hosted by Dentistry to bring you the best conversations in the dental profession
This is Dentistry Talks, a podcast where we speak with exciting voices on topics outside of the profession to bring you fresh perspectives on dentistry. Whether it's a successful entrepreneur or a record-breaking athlete, our guests share experiences that have important connections to the world of dentistry. We hope their stories and advice can help you to reshape the way you approach dentistry – be it in business, personal development or providing the best patient care.

About your host

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Gaby Bissett